Illinois State XC Competes in Joe Piane Invitational

Image courtesy of Illinois State Athletics / Story by Jakob Stegmiller

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Illinois State cross-country program completed its third event of the season at the Joe Piane Invitational on Friday morning at Burke Golf Course. The women’s team competed in the Blue Division 5K race, finishing in 11th, while the men’s team competed in the Blue Division 8K race, finishing in fifth.

Senior Norah Brady led the birds finishing 46th with a personal-best time of 17:07.98.That personal record marked the third-best 5k time in program history.

Junior Johanna Ebert also had a new personal-best time of 17:14.25 for 56th place, marking the eighth-best time in program history. Sophomore Pauline Schedler also left her name in program history, finishing with a time of 17:17.48 for 62nd, tying for ninth all-time at Illinois State.

Junior Becca Heitzig finished the race with a time of 7:24.75 for 72nd place, while junior Astrid Van Breedam became the fifth redbird on the field to finish in the top 100, finishing with a time of 17:37.59 for 85th place.

Junior Julian Baker recorded his personal-best time of 23:26.5 for 10th place, becoming the third-best 8k time in program history. This is the second time in Baker’s collegiate career where he led the men’s team in consecutive meets, going back to the Gans Creek Classic and Bradley Pink Classic in 2025.

Senior Cayde de Waal finished 41st with a personal-best time of 24:19.5, and freshman Max Weber placed 43rd with a personal-best time of 24:20.7. Junior Will Gelon was right behind him crossing the finish line in 45th with a personal-best time of 24:22.8.

Senior Karson Hollander became the fifth redbird in the top 50 with a mark of 24:26.0. Junior Ethan Eichhorn ran a time of 24:43.6 for 79th place, and sophomore Quinn Davis recorded a personal-best time of 24:54.3.

This wraps up the Redbird’s meet at Joe Piane Invitational. The women’s team finished with 291 points in total and the men’s team with 180 points in total. Along with seven runners finishing with a new personal-best.

Illinois State will conclude their regular season at the Bradley Pink Classic on Friday, Oct. 16, beginning at 11 a.m. The event will take place at the Newman Golf Course in Peoria, Illinois.

For all things Illinois State Cross Country, stay tuned to WZND.com