TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State cross country opens its 2025 season Friday, as the Sycamores make a short trek across the state line for the Fighting Illini Invitational at the Orange and Blue Golf Course in Savoy, Illinois.
 
The women's 4k will take place at noon, with the men's 6k to follow at 12:30 p.m.
 

2024 Sam Bell Invitational
Date	Friday, August 29 | Noon (women's 4k) // 12:30 p.m. (men's 6k)
Location // Venue	Savoy, Ill. // Orange and Blue Golf Course
Preview Info	Meet Information // Start Lists // Course Maps (4K | 6K)
Live Results	Results Link
Social Media	@IndStXCTF // @IndStAthletics

 
Who's In The Field?
Joining the Sycamores and host institution Illinois in Friday's season-opening meet are Bradley, Chicago State, Illinois State, Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois and UIC.
 
Three teams enter the season ranked in the top 10 in their respective regions, all of which come from the Missouri Valley Conference (Bradley Men – Midwest No. 7, Bradley women – Midwest No. 7, Indiana State women – Great Lakes No. 8). Indiana State's No. 8 region ranking on the women's side is the highest in program history under the USTFCCCA regional ranking system.
 
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Indiana State junior Emma Gresham posted arguably the best season for a Sycamore women's cross country athlete in program history last year, capturing the MVC individual title and breaking nearly every program record on the course.
 
Gresham broke the 4k (14:14), 5k (16:58) and 6k (20:09) records during the 2024 season, while becoming the first Indiana State women's cross country athlete to win the MVC individual title since 2003. She also earned All-Region honors with a top-25 finish at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, becoming the first Sycamore since 2018 to place in the top 25 at the regional meet.
 
Gresham leads a talented group of returners, with five of Indiana State's top seven from last season on the women's side all back in Blue and White.
 
Continued Success
Indiana State looks to build off a strong 2024 season, as the Sycamores recorded their highest conference finish on the women's side in nearly 30 years by placing second at the MVC. The Trees also carded a top-half finish on the men's side by placing fifth.
 
The Sycamores feature a young team in 2025, with just one senior – Jocqael Thorpe – among the 28 athletes set to compete for the Blue and White during the upcoming cross country season. Despite the youth, Indiana State returns three of its top five on both the men's (Emerson Fayman, Ryan Handy, Ryan York) and women's (Emma Gresham, Brittney Burak, Peyton Smith) side from last year.
 
Strong Starts
Indiana State has started its season on the right foot in each of the last four campaigns, and the Sycamores look to continue that trend in 2025. The Sycamores have placed no lower than third on either side in a season-opening meet since Brad Butler started working with the cross country program, and have placed first in a season opener in each of the last three seasons.
 
Indiana State earned first-place finishes on the men's side at the EIU Walt Crawford Open in both 2022 and 2023, while the Sycamore women placed first at the Sam Bell Invitational in 2024.
 
Up Next
Indiana State plays host to the John McNichols Invitational September 20 at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course.
 
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on the Sycamore Cross Country teams, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from the both the App Store and the Google Play Store.