SPRINGFIELD, IL - University of Illinois Springfield men's cross country coach Mike De Witt announced the addition of three runners to the program for the 2016-17 season.

"The three additions are solid high school athletes that have good track times and have been part of state qualifying relay teams," said De Witt. "They're going to fill the gaps in our cross country roster from this past fall and will make us a deeper team overall. All three are going to develop into strong members of the program right away."

Jack Moore (Springfield, Ill.), Alex Phelps (Washington, Ill.) and Nick Reynolds (Jerseyville, Ill.) will join the Prairie Stars for the 2016-17 season.

"One thing about high school guys coming in is that they have to make the jump from running races that are 16, 17 minutes to racing 27, 28 minutes and then by the time you get to regionals they have to run 10k which is an extra 20 minutes from what they're used to. So it takes a little longer for them to develop the mileage to be able to race that long with good focus. I'm very confident these guys will develop and they want to be a part of something that's growing."
 

	Jack Moore Springfield, Ill. | Springfield High High School Highlights Member of the honor roll ... finished 64th place at the Peoria Invitational at Detweiler Park with a time of 16:20 ... was the JV champion of the Springfield Invitational with a time of 16:50 ... set personal-bests on the track with a 4:46 time in the 1600m and a 2:06 time in the 800m ... plans to study Political Science.
	Alex Phelps Washington, Ill. | Washington High High School Highlights Finished with a time of 16:54 at the First to the Finish Meet at Detweiler Park in Peoria ... posted a time of 16:38 at the Metamora Invitational ... finished 22nd at the Peoria 1A Regional and advanced to the sectional meet with a time of 18:13.
	Nick Reynolds Jerseyville, Ill. | Jersey Community High High School Highlights Member of the high honor roll ... three-time all-conference honoree in cross country ... captain of the cross country and track teams ... finished fourth at the Carlinville Early Season Invitational with a time of 16:18 ... posted another 16:18 time at the First to the Finish Meet at Detweiler Park in Peoria ... placed fifth at the Mississippi Valley Conference meet with a time of 16:42 ... plans to study Business Marketing.