Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Saturday, October 27
Peoria, Ill.
Southern Illinois University
at
MVC Championships
Josh Maier wins MVC Cross Country individual title
10/27/2018 | 2:44:00 | Cross Country
Maier becomes the first Saluki since 2010 to win a MVC men's title.
Senior Josh Maier captured the men's individual title Saturday at the 2018 MVC Cross Country Championship in Peoria, Ill., while Cain Hassim and Megan Krolak each earned top-15 finishes.
Maier's win is the 12th individual title in school history and the first for a Saluki since Dan Dunbar took home the individual title in 2010. Krolak's top-15 finish, meanwhile, is the first for a Saluki woman since 2014. As a team, the Saluki men finished sixth due to a tiebreaker and the women came in seventh. 11 of SIU's 12 runners set personal-bests, including all six women.
"His smile coming down the final stretch said it all, it was just fun to watch," SIU Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Rosalind Joseph said. "His words to me when I asked how he felt, he said 'finally'. Watching Josh finish out a stellar season as MVC cross country champion was only fitting. He's been a man on a mission all season, and his work ethic is so deserving of this win. Top to bottom, he's just really an all-around great guy, but he's worked for that. He's earned that. He can have the number one time in the conference, but still be such a team player. Those are the guys the program remembers, those are the guys leading the next ones behind them because they don't mind working with him."
Maier entered the race with the second-fastest 8K time in the Valley this season and held on to that distinction at the Newman Golf Course by finishing with a 8K personal-best of 23:57.18, more than 20 seconds faster than his previous best time and seven seconds ahead of second place Michael Ward of Bradley.Â
The pack ran with Maier for much of the first eight minutes of the race as Cody Bailey of Illinois State and Maier tussled for the lead as the race entered the 10 minute mark. Bradley's Michael Ward began to make his move two minutes later, while Kyle Matthes of Illinois State hung around near the front for much of the race as well. The races top-six runners began to gain some distance on the field around the 14 minute mark, with 10 meters between the first and second packs of runners.
Over the next five minutes, the first pack was down to four runners; Maier, Matthes, Ward and Indiana State's Akis Medrano. Maier and Ward then broke off at the 21 minute mark and the Alsip, Ill. native opened up a big lead over the final 2K to claim the men's individual title.Â
The next closest Saluki in the field was Cain Hassim, who placed 13th to earn his first All-MVC cross country honor. He clocked a :15 second PR at 25:00.15. Cain's brother, Theo Hassim, was the next Saluki to cross the finish line in 35th place with a more than :30 PR while Jacob DeWitt (42nd), Reid Parsons (50th) and Michael Church (53rd) rounded out Southern's finishers.
"Our men's race was bitter sweet in that we dropped to 6th on a tie breaker, but the way they did it was fun to watch," Joseph said. "Every young man really gave everything they had, almost to their own surprise. You can have a stud like Josh Maier out front, but you have to have a group of guys behind him willing to fight. Every single guy did that today. Every single guy gave what they had and it showed. So that plus an MVC champion, I can't complain about the results because they don't show our men's growth and effort today."
On the women's side, Krolak became the first Saluki since Krista Menghini in 2014 to place in the top-15 with her 11th place finish. Krolak cut nearly eight seconds off her previous best 5K time to earn the first All-MVC honor of her career. Freshman Kayla Schiera, one of four Saluki first-years running at the MVC Championships, trimmed over 1:30 off her best 5K time to finish 20th with a mark of 18:04.49.
"Both of our teams really grinded out the course today," Joseph said. "I'm satisfied with the women- we are considered a young team, but they've all matured quickly and as a collective over the past few months. Everyone raced for one another. We had some women step out of their comfort zone, so the chemistry is there, the confidence is growing. Once we add to the depth this will be a special group of women."
Four other Southern Illinois runners - Olivia Murphy (18:28.52), Sydney Matusik (18:55.59), Grace McDurmon (19:16.63) and Maddy Hurt (19:53.58) - all set 5K career-bests.
The cross country squads will return to post-season competition in two weeks when they travel to Peoria, Ill., for the 2018 NCAA Midwest Regional Championship.
Women's Team Scores
1Â Â Â Â Bradley (51 points)
2Â Â Â Â Loyola (75 points)
3Â Â Â Â Illinois State (85 points)
4Â Â Â Â Indiana State (107 points)
5Â Â Â Â UNI (111 points)
6Â Â Â Â Missouri State (139 points)
7Â Â Â Â Southern Illinois (163 points)
8Â Â Â Â Drake (207 points)
9Â Â Â Â Evansville (232 points)
10Â Valparaiso (267 points)
Women's All-Conference First Team
Lindsey Brewis, Loyola (Athlete of the Year)
Brooke Moore, Indiana State
Gabby Juarez, Bradley
Tyler Schwartz, Bradley
Grace Breiten, Missouri State
Claire Hengesbaugh, Loyola
Mimi Reimers, Loyola
Rachel Hickey, Illinois State
Audrey Janik, Illinois State
Ayah Aldadah, Bradley
Women's All-Conference Honorable Mention
Megan Krolak, Southern Illinois
Mckayla Cole, UNI
Kennidi Knoblock, Illinois State
Alli Workman, Indiana State
Anna Lowry, Evansville
Men's Team Scores
1Â Â Â Â Bradley (40 points)
2Â Â Illinois State (71 points)
3Â Â Â Â Drake (93 points)
4Â Â Â Â Indiana State (114 points)
5Â Â Â Â UNI (136 points)*
6Â Â Â Â Southern Illinois (136 points)*
7Â Â Â Â Valparaiso (146 points)
8Â Â Â Â Loyola (153 points)
9Â Â Â Â Evansville (284 points)
*UNI took fifth-place via tiebreaker
Men's All-Conference First Team
Josh Maier, Southern Illinois (Athlete of the Year)
Michael Ward, Bradley
Akis Medrano, Indiana State
Kyle Mattes, Illinois State
Cody Baele, Illinois State
Haran Dunderdale, Bradley
Alexander Bruno, Valparaiso
Wal Khat, UNI
Jake Hoffert, Bradley
Joshua Yeager, Drake
Men's All-Conference Honorable Mention
Luke Hoffert, Bradley
William Anderson, Bradley
Cain Hassim, Southern Illinois
Kimathi Johnson, Illinois State
Jack Franklin, Bradley
Specialty Awards
Women's Athlete of the Year - Lindsey Brewis, Loyola
Women's Elite 17 - Gabby Juarez, Bradley
Women's Freshman of the Year - Tyler Schwartz, Bradley
Women's Coach of the Year - Darren Gauson, Bradley
Men's Athlete of the Year - Josh Maier, Southern Illinois
Men's Elite 17 - Josh Maier, Southern Illinois
Men's Freshman of the Year - Jack Franklin, Bradley
Men's Coach of the Year - Darren Gauson, Bradley
Maier's win is the 12th individual title in school history and the first for a Saluki since Dan Dunbar took home the individual title in 2010. Krolak's top-15 finish, meanwhile, is the first for a Saluki woman since 2014. As a team, the Saluki men finished sixth due to a tiebreaker and the women came in seventh. 11 of SIU's 12 runners set personal-bests, including all six women.
"His smile coming down the final stretch said it all, it was just fun to watch," SIU Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Rosalind Joseph said. "His words to me when I asked how he felt, he said 'finally'. Watching Josh finish out a stellar season as MVC cross country champion was only fitting. He's been a man on a mission all season, and his work ethic is so deserving of this win. Top to bottom, he's just really an all-around great guy, but he's worked for that. He's earned that. He can have the number one time in the conference, but still be such a team player. Those are the guys the program remembers, those are the guys leading the next ones behind them because they don't mind working with him."
Maier entered the race with the second-fastest 8K time in the Valley this season and held on to that distinction at the Newman Golf Course by finishing with a 8K personal-best of 23:57.18, more than 20 seconds faster than his previous best time and seven seconds ahead of second place Michael Ward of Bradley.Â
The pack ran with Maier for much of the first eight minutes of the race as Cody Bailey of Illinois State and Maier tussled for the lead as the race entered the 10 minute mark. Bradley's Michael Ward began to make his move two minutes later, while Kyle Matthes of Illinois State hung around near the front for much of the race as well. The races top-six runners began to gain some distance on the field around the 14 minute mark, with 10 meters between the first and second packs of runners.
Over the next five minutes, the first pack was down to four runners; Maier, Matthes, Ward and Indiana State's Akis Medrano. Maier and Ward then broke off at the 21 minute mark and the Alsip, Ill. native opened up a big lead over the final 2K to claim the men's individual title.Â
The next closest Saluki in the field was Cain Hassim, who placed 13th to earn his first All-MVC cross country honor. He clocked a :15 second PR at 25:00.15. Cain's brother, Theo Hassim, was the next Saluki to cross the finish line in 35th place with a more than :30 PR while Jacob DeWitt (42nd), Reid Parsons (50th) and Michael Church (53rd) rounded out Southern's finishers.
"Our men's race was bitter sweet in that we dropped to 6th on a tie breaker, but the way they did it was fun to watch," Joseph said. "Every young man really gave everything they had, almost to their own surprise. You can have a stud like Josh Maier out front, but you have to have a group of guys behind him willing to fight. Every single guy did that today. Every single guy gave what they had and it showed. So that plus an MVC champion, I can't complain about the results because they don't show our men's growth and effort today."
On the women's side, Krolak became the first Saluki since Krista Menghini in 2014 to place in the top-15 with her 11th place finish. Krolak cut nearly eight seconds off her previous best 5K time to earn the first All-MVC honor of her career. Freshman Kayla Schiera, one of four Saluki first-years running at the MVC Championships, trimmed over 1:30 off her best 5K time to finish 20th with a mark of 18:04.49.
"Both of our teams really grinded out the course today," Joseph said. "I'm satisfied with the women- we are considered a young team, but they've all matured quickly and as a collective over the past few months. Everyone raced for one another. We had some women step out of their comfort zone, so the chemistry is there, the confidence is growing. Once we add to the depth this will be a special group of women."
Four other Southern Illinois runners - Olivia Murphy (18:28.52), Sydney Matusik (18:55.59), Grace McDurmon (19:16.63) and Maddy Hurt (19:53.58) - all set 5K career-bests.
The cross country squads will return to post-season competition in two weeks when they travel to Peoria, Ill., for the 2018 NCAA Midwest Regional Championship.
Women's Team Scores
1Â Â Â Â Bradley (51 points)
2Â Â Â Â Loyola (75 points)
3Â Â Â Â Illinois State (85 points)
4Â Â Â Â Indiana State (107 points)
5Â Â Â Â UNI (111 points)
6Â Â Â Â Missouri State (139 points)
7Â Â Â Â Southern Illinois (163 points)
8Â Â Â Â Drake (207 points)
9Â Â Â Â Evansville (232 points)
10Â Valparaiso (267 points)
Women's All-Conference First Team
Lindsey Brewis, Loyola (Athlete of the Year)
Brooke Moore, Indiana State
Gabby Juarez, Bradley
Tyler Schwartz, Bradley
Grace Breiten, Missouri State
Claire Hengesbaugh, Loyola
Mimi Reimers, Loyola
Rachel Hickey, Illinois State
Audrey Janik, Illinois State
Ayah Aldadah, Bradley
Women's All-Conference Honorable Mention
Megan Krolak, Southern Illinois
Mckayla Cole, UNI
Kennidi Knoblock, Illinois State
Alli Workman, Indiana State
Anna Lowry, Evansville
Men's Team Scores
1Â Â Â Â Bradley (40 points)
2Â Â Illinois State (71 points)
3Â Â Â Â Drake (93 points)
4Â Â Â Â Indiana State (114 points)
5Â Â Â Â UNI (136 points)*
6Â Â Â Â Southern Illinois (136 points)*
7Â Â Â Â Valparaiso (146 points)
8Â Â Â Â Loyola (153 points)
9Â Â Â Â Evansville (284 points)
*UNI took fifth-place via tiebreaker
Men's All-Conference First Team
Josh Maier, Southern Illinois (Athlete of the Year)
Michael Ward, Bradley
Akis Medrano, Indiana State
Kyle Mattes, Illinois State
Cody Baele, Illinois State
Haran Dunderdale, Bradley
Alexander Bruno, Valparaiso
Wal Khat, UNI
Jake Hoffert, Bradley
Joshua Yeager, Drake
Men's All-Conference Honorable Mention
Luke Hoffert, Bradley
William Anderson, Bradley
Cain Hassim, Southern Illinois
Kimathi Johnson, Illinois State
Jack Franklin, Bradley
Specialty Awards
Women's Athlete of the Year - Lindsey Brewis, Loyola
Women's Elite 17 - Gabby Juarez, Bradley
Women's Freshman of the Year - Tyler Schwartz, Bradley
Women's Coach of the Year - Darren Gauson, Bradley
Men's Athlete of the Year - Josh Maier, Southern Illinois
Men's Elite 17 - Josh Maier, Southern Illinois
Men's Freshman of the Year - Jack Franklin, Bradley
Men's Coach of the Year - Darren Gauson, Bradley
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
Saluki Radio Baseball Broadcast - Game 2 at Bradley (Audio Only)
Sunday, April 19
Saluki Radio Baseball Broadcast - Game 1 at Bradley Continued Top 8 (Audio Only)
Saturday, April 18
Saluki Radio Baseball Broadcast - Game 1 at Bradley (Audio Only)
Saturday, April 18
4.16.26 | Saluki Softball Weekend Preview - UNI
Friday, April 17