The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) men's cross country team took fifth place during Saturday's Gil Dodds Invitational in Wheaton, Ill.
 
"It's great to see the improvement over last year," UIS head coach Scott Slade said. "The guys are coming together and getting better and better. They are hungry and can see that we can be a much better team."
 
UIS compiled a team score of 185 to finish fifth in the 17-team field. The Prairie Stars had two runners beat UIS's top time at the meet last year and had four runners beat the second-fastest time at the meet last season. Five Prairie Stars set personal records (PRs), including four by more than 25 seconds.
 
"There were a lot of huge PRs for the men," UIS assistant coach Tyler Pence acknowledged. "This just shows their progress many of them have made over the last year."
 
Blake Jones claimed 35th with an 8K time of 26 minutes 18.8 seconds. The Lincoln native recorded the sixth-fastest time in school history and broke the UIS freshman record.
 
Tyler Pasley earned 37th with a time of 26:20.4, tying his personal record (PR). The sophomore from Shelbyville is tied for seventh for fastest time in UIS history and set the new UIS sophomore record.
 
Tyler Hiserote secured 49th (26:41.0) with a time that is a 33.0-second PR as well as 1:10.6 faster than last year's time. The Bartonville native recorded the fifth-fastest time by a UIS junior.
 
Ryan Stark took 60th (26:52.4) with a time that is a 30.0-second PR as well as 1:46.2 quicker than last year's time. The Mapleton native posted the fifth-fastest time by a UIS sophomore.
 
Thomas Wuchte captured 92nd (27:28.6), setting a PR and improving last year's time by 1:09.6. Layne Hill finished 99th (27:41.8) with a 26.3-second PR.
 
Cayden Kirkham finished 112th (27:57.8), Jake Schwartz secured 116th (28:05.0) and Brendan Kroeger crossed the finish line 119th (28:06.9). Alex Phelps took 120th (28:07.0) and clocked a 28.3-second PR.
 
Trevor Dunkel captured 141st (28:42.3), Emmons King secured 144th (28:48.1), Patrik Elkins claimed 165th (29:12.9), Drew Detmer finished 195th (30:23.8) and Drake Claxton placed 221st (32:19.1).
 
The meet consisted of primarily NCAA Division III institutions, which include Washington University-St. Louis, North Central College, the University of Chicago, Cornell College, Wheaton College, Carroll University, Hope College, Carthage College, Denison University, Millikin University, Greenville University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Aurora University and Illinois Wesleyan University.
 
Washington-St. Louis, ranked No. 7 in the latest United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division III poll, rolled to first with 19 points. Top-ranked North Central came in second with 61 points, finishing ahead of No. 22 Chicago (80), No. 19 Cornell (153), UIS (185), Wheaton (217), Carroll (252), Hope (268), Carthage (270), Denison (284), Millikin (289), Greenville (290), Illinois Tech (328), Aurora (366), Illinois Wesleyan (400), National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I's Malcolm X College (442) and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' (NAIA's) Trinity International University (512), which rounded out the team standings.
 
Washington-St. Louis's Brad Hodkinson grinded out a victory with a time of 25:21.7. Hodkinson edged Cornell's Mason Wicker (2nd, 25:21.9) by two-tenths of as second. Washington-St. Louis captured the next four spots, which all finished within four seconds of the winner. Peter Johnsrud claimed third (25:23.9), Nick Matteucci took fourth (25:24.1), Marco Quaroni locked up fifth (25:24.8) and David O'gara closed out in sixth (25:25.1).
 
"We still have a lot of work to do to get where we want to be. It's nonetheless another step in the right direction."
 
UIS returns to action in the Greater Louisville Classic at 9:45 a.m. CT on Sept. 29 at Louisville, Ky.