McLean County Times

The Illinois Wesleyan University men's and women's cross country teams will begin their 2025 seasons at the Titan Opener on Friday, August 29. The event will take place at Maxwell Park in Normal, Illinois, and will include teams from Eureka College and Illinois College. The women's race is scheduled to start at 5:45 p.m., followed by the men's race at 6:15 p.m.

The Titans' head coach is entering his 21st season leading both programs. He is joined by a graduate assistant who is in her second year working with both the cross country and track and field teams.

On the women's team, (Normal, Ill.-University High) returns for her senior season after competing in two consecutive NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships. She was the CCIW Individual Champion in 2023 and finished third at the conference championships in 2024. Other key returners include sophomore (Glen Ellyn, Ill.-Glenbard West) and senior (Batavia, Ill.-Batavia), who both earned All-CCIW Second Team honors last year.

The women's program has been ranked seventh in the Midwest Region preseason rankings by the United Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association as of August 26. IWU is one of four College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin schools included in these regional rankings, with Wheaton College ahead at fifth place. Millikin University and North Central College are ranked eighth and ninth respectively.

For the men's team, seniors (Lake Barrington, Ill.-Barrington), (Mount Vernon, Ill.-Webber), (Plainfield, Ill.-Joliet West), (Minneapolis, Minn.-Washburn), and (Peoria, Ill.-Peoria Notre Dame) are expected to lead this season. Among returning athletes, Hamerski had the top finish last year at the CCIW Championships with a 37th-place result.

Results from Friday’s races will be posted on the cross country schedule pages of iwusports.com after completion of the meet.