NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State men's and women's cross country team will open their 2022 seasons on Thursday afternoon, as the squad will compete at the 2022 Illini Challenge, hosted by the University of Illinois Illini.
The women's 5,000-meter race begins at 5 p.m., with the men's 6,000-meter race starting just after.
COLLEGIATE DEBUTS
Three Redbirds – Yusuf Baig, Garrett Slack, and Maggie Reed – will be making their collegiate debuts in the two-school event.
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
The Illinois State women's cross country team was picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll, while the men's cross country program was selected to finish third and earned one first-place vote, as announced by the conference.