Illinois State senior Kyle Mattes became the Redbirds' highest NCAA Cross Country Championship finisher Saturday by placing 52nd in the NCAA meet at Madison, Wis.
His placing was one spot higher than Mike Baker's 53rd at the 1980 NCAA Championship. Mattes also broke ISU's 10K school record with his time of 30 minutes, 10.30 seconds. The previous mark was a 30:25 by Baker at the 1980 NCAA meet.
Mattes was the top Missouri Valley Conference finisher. Loyola's Lindsey Brewis placed 56th in the women's 6K, and Indiana State's Akis Medrano finished 191st in the men's 10K. Bradley's men placed 24th out of 31 teams in the Braves' first NCAA appearance.