SAVOY, Ill. – Indiana State opened its 2025 cross country season with a statement showing Friday afternoon, as six Sycamores bettered the previous 4k program record at the Fighting Illini Invitational.
 
The Sycamores placed second as a team on the women's side, ahead of host institution Illinois, while the men finished fifth.
 
Brittney Burak led the way for the Blue and White on the women's side, placing seventh overall and breaking Emma Gresham's program record set last year with a time of 13:44.4. Gresham was right behind her in ninth at 13:47.3, while Peyton Smith (14:00.0), Sawyer DeWitt (14:00.1) and Gnister Grant (14:06.9) rounded out the Trees' top five with top-20 finishes. Hadley Gradolf also placed in the top 20 with a time of 14:09.2, while Eve Schurr and Halle Miller both clocked times of 14:30.6 to place in the top 30. Alli Steffey (14:41.4) and Kamilla Gibson (14:57.1) were both in the top 40, with Robyn Schemel (15:08.1), Ada Sabo (15:40.7) and Hallie Mimbela (15:48.1) rounding out the Sycamore lineup.
 
DeWitt and Schurr both cracked the program top 10 4k times in their collegiate debuts, with nine different Sycamores running program top-20 4k times in Friday's meet.
 
Emerson Fayman paced the Trees on the men's side, finishing 12th with a time of 18:06.8. Ryan York (18:30.7) and Mason Nobles (18:34.3) both placed in the top 30 for the Blue and White, while Will Kozlowski (18:42.5) and Jcim Grant (18:54.4) rounded out the scoring for the Sycamores. Chris Angeles (18:55.7) and Alex Alvarez (18:59.0) carded top-40 finishes in their Indiana State debuts to finish off the Sycamore top seven, while Xander Fackler (19:02.8), Ryan Handy (19:18.9), Brandon Mueller (19:21.6) and Jocqael Thorpe (19:28.8) all placed in the top 50. Tommy Claxton (19:57.6) and Parker Mimbela (20:10.7) closed out the lineup for the Blue and White.
 
Bradley placed first on both the men's and women's side, with the Braves' Kaitlyn Sheppard and Jayde Rosslee winning the individual titles.
 
Indiana State Results (Men's 6K/Women's 4K)
WOMEN: 2nd of 8 teams (7-9-14-15-16-(17)-(24)) – 61 points
7. Brittney Burak – 13:44.4 (school record)
9. Emma Gresham – 13:47.3 (second in program history)
14. Peyton Smith – 14:00.0 (third in program history)
15. Sawyer DeWitt – 14:00.1 (fourth in program history)
16. Gnister Grant – 14:06.9 (fifth in program history)
17. Hadley Gradolf – 14:09.2 (sixth in program history)
26. Eve Schurr – 14:30.6 (ninth in program history)
27. Halle Miller – 14:30.6 (ninth in program history)
33. Alli Steffey – 14:41.4 (16th in program history)
39. Kamilla Gibson – 14:57.1
43. Robyn Schemel – 15:08.1
52. Ada Sabo – 15:40.7
53. Hallie Mimbela – 15:48.1
 
MEN: 5th of 7 teams (12-26-27-30-34-(35)-(36)) – 129 points
12. Emerson Fayman – 18:06.8
27. Ryan York – 18:30.7
29. Mason Nobles – 18:34.3
32. Will Kozlowski – 18:42.5
38. Jcim Grant – 18:54.4
39. Chris Angeles – 18:55.7
40. Alex Alvarez – 18:59.0
42. Xander Fackler – 19:02.8
46. Ryan Handy – 19:18.9
47. Brandon Mueller – 19:21.6
50. Jocqael Thorpe – 19:28.8
57. Tommy Claxton – 19:57.6
58. Parker Mimbela – 20:10.7

Post-Race Reactions: Brad Butler, Brittney Burak and Emerson Fayman
 

Up Next
Indiana State has three weeks before its next home meet, with the Sycamores slated to host the John McNichols Invitational September 20 at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course.
 
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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.