By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State cross country is set to host the 2015 edition of the Indiana Intercollegiate cross country meet at LaVern Gibson Championship Course on Friday afternoon.
This is the first time since the 2012 season that ISU has hosted the annual meet, which will feature 27 different Indiana schools from Division I, Division II, Division III, NAIA, NJCAA and the USCAA. This is the only home meet of the year for the Sycamores, as the Pre-National and NCAA Championship meets are both in Louisville this season. However, both will return to LaVern Gibson in 2016.
Other Division I schools in attendance include Ball State, Butler, Indiana and IUPUI. Indiana is the reigning champion in both the men's 8K and women's 5K. In fact, the Hoosier men have won three of the last four and the Hoosier women are perfect over the last four meets.
However, Indiana State has had massive success the previous three seasons. Sycamore All-American John Mascari is undefeated in the Intercollegiate meet, having won the previous three 8K races – including his first in Terre Haute in 2012. Mascari will go for the sweep and lead a contingent of Sycamore men looking to build upon their strong season opener amid intense heat at Evansville two weeks ago. ISU finished second behind Louisville with Mascari taking the individual title over Louisville.
The Sycamore women lose top Intercollegiate finisher Nicole Lucas from 2014, but return top-30 finisher and 2014 MVC Freshman of the Year Taylor Austin. The Sycamore women are also coming off a solid second-place finish at Evansville on Sept. 5.
There will be four races in total, beginning at 3:15 p.m. at LaVern Gibson: the women's 5K open, men's 8K open, women's 5K championship and men's 8K championship – all followed by an awards presentation at 6:15 p.m.
For the latest information on the Sycamore Track and Field team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.
