Illinois State XC Takes Second at MVC Championships

Written by Jakob Stegmiller on October 31, 2026

Image courtesy of Illinois State athletics

DES MOINES, Iowa. — The Illinois State cross-country program finished at second place in both the men’s and women’s 8k race at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships on Friday.

The Redbird women’s squad totaled 67 points as a whole, leading them to a second place finish at the MVC Championships for the first time since 2014. The Redbird men’s squad finished second for the second time in three years with a total of 60 points.

Senior Nora Brady recorded the fastest 6k time (20:16.1) in program history to finish third on the field. Brady surpassed junior Johanna Ebert’s time of 20:37.8 from the Bradley Pink Classic on Oct. 16. This was her second time placing top 10 in the MVC Championships, finishing seventh in 2025. Brady also was rewarded the achievement’s for Women’s All-MVC First Team and the Women’s Elite 18 Reward.

Sophomore Pauline Schedler recorded a personal-best time of 20:34.1 for 10th place, this gave her the second-best 6k time in program history. On top of that, Brady and Schedler were the first Redbird duo to finish in the top 10 in the MVC Championships since 2023. This also led to Schedler being awarded the Women’s All-MVC First Team with Brady.

The three juniors to round out the top 20 were Becca Heitzig, Johanna Ebert, and Astrid Van Breedam finishing 18th, 19th, and 20th, respectively. Heitzig crossed the finish line at 20:53.5, while Ebert notched a time of 20:54.4. Van Breedam closed out the top 20 with a time of 20:56.1.

Sophomore Cameron Crump and freshman Emily King both finished with personal-best times of 21:32.0 and 21:32.7, finishing 35th and 36th among the field. Senior Grace Erb ran a time of 22:19.5 for 60th place to close out the women’s 6k race.

Junior Julian Baker placed second with a time of 23:37.9, leading the Redbird men for the fourth-consecutive meet. This made him the first Redbird since Mathis Chavand in 2023 to lead the team in four straight events with a team score. Baker stood alone with the award of Men’s All-MVC First Team.

Freshman Max Weber finished with a personal-best time of 24:09.5 for 12th place. He was awarded the MVC Freshman of the Year and Men’s All-MVC Second Team. He became the first Redbird freshman to win the MVC Freshman of the Year award since 2022.

Junior Ethan Eichhorn finished in 13th-place with a time of 24:13.7, becoming the second Redbird to earn the Men’s All-MVC Second Team award. Senior Karson Hollander finished with a mark of 24:23.7 for 17th place, followed immediately by senior Cayde de Waal at 24:23.8 for 18th place.

Junior Will Gelon finished with a time of 24:55.7 for 40th place, while sophomore Quinn Davis finished 42nd at 25:01.8. Senior Blake Oleson placed 43rd with a time of 25:02.0. Freshman Alex Rodriguez closed out the men’s 8k race with a time of 25:37.9 for 59th overall.

Illinois State will prepare for their next race in the NCAA Midwest Regional in Ames, Iowa, on Friday, Nov. 13, beginning at 11 a.m.

MEN’S 8K RESULTS – 2nd Place (60 Points)

2. Julian Baker, 23:37.9 // 12. Max Weber, 24:09.5 (PR) // 13. Ethan Eichhorn, 24:13.7 // 17. Karson Hollander, 24:23.7 // 18. Cayde de Waal, 24:23.8 // 40. Will Gelon, 24:55.7 // 42. Quinn Davis, 25:01.8 // 43. Blake Oleson, 25:02.0 // 59. Alex Rodriguez, 25:37.9

WOMEN’S 6K RESULTS – 2nd Place (67 Points)

3. Nora Brady, 20:16.1 (PR) // 10. Pauline Schedler, 20:34.1 (PR) // 18. Becca Heitzig, 20:53.5 // 19. Johanna Ebert, 20:54.4 // 20. Astrid Van Breedam, 20:56.1 (PR) // 35. Cameron Crump, 21:32.0 (PR) // 36. Emily King, 21:32.7 (PR) // 60. Grace Erb, 22:19.5

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