The Illinois Springfield men's track team competed at the GVSU Big Meet on Friday, taking on a competitive field from the Midwest and beyond. The Prairie Stars showed depth in the 5,000 meters, Friday's main open event, and will return to action on Saturday for more racing.

Senior Isaac Cortes led the team in section five with a time of 14:57, followed closely by Dominic Cantarini at 15:08. In section four, Owen Whelan posted 15:01, and freshman Charlie Borlin finished in 15:10. Section three saw juniors Matt Padilla and Joey Karlesky cross the line in 15:14 and 15:39, respectively.

In section nine, junior Garrett Wagoner ran 15:32, with freshman River Derby following at 15:44. Sophomore Lucas Naugle contributed a 16:14 performance in section ten, while senior Will McGonigal ran 15:42 in section two for his second appearance as a Prairie Star.

Junior Carson Cowling showcased his sprint speed in the 600 meters, crossing the line in 1:34 in heat seven. Friday's competition allowed the Prairie Stars to test themselves against a strong field and build momentum for the second day of the meet, where UIS has more entries and second showings for all of Friday's competitors.

Up Next
The team will return to the track in Allendale on Saturday looking for top conference marks as they surpass the mid-season mark.