Full Results (.pdf) I Open Race Results (.pdf) I Photo Gallery

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The IUPUI men's cross country team used its depth and balance to stake claim to a fourth-place finish at Friday's (Sept. 20) Indiana Intercollegiates Meet at the challenging IU Championship Course. Sophomore Joey Zielinski led the Jaguars' pack with an 8K time of 25:33.08 to finish 13th and classmate Sam Roudebush was 14th at 25:35.41. 

Host Indiana won the meet with 25 points and both Purdue (64) and Indiana State (72) nudged just ahead of the Jaguars, who closed with 80 points. Both Purdue and Indiana State are ranked among the Great Lakes Region's top 15 while IUPUI remained unmentioned this past week. 

"We were right behind Purdue and Indiana State," IUPUI Head Coach Chuck Koeppen said. "They knew we were there. As a team, we can't really complain. This is the highest we've ever finished and the guys ran well. 

"We can do better, but I was pretty pleased with the effort today. The guys did a really nice job."

A third sophomore, Miguel Lozano, placed 20th overall in a time of 25:56.58 and junior Spencer Burgin was 26th at 26:08.18. Freshman Peyton Reed was the top rookie in the Jaguars' varsity lineup, clocking a time of 26:22.76 to place 31st of 199 runners. Junior Pryce Ragains continued to round into form with a time of 26:24.41 and redshirt freshman Mitch Hubner was immediately behind him at 26:27.09. Junior Austin Young and freshman Damon Pruett rounded out the Jaguars entries with times of 26:34.00 and 26:50.39, respectively. 

IUPUI's depth was clear - 12 Jaguars including the open race - clocked a faster time than Indiana State's No. 5 runner. However, the Sycamores got the race win from third-year sophomore John Mascari in a time of 24:41.69 to edge IUPUI by eight points. Purdue's effort was keyed by second-place Matt McClintock and the remainder of the Boilermakers lineup finishing among the top 20. McClintock opted to pull his teammates along over the first half of the race before accelerating to a second-place finish in the final 3K. 

Indiana dominated the team scoring with a pack of runners taking spots three through eight. 

"We're continuing to make strides and close that gap on the Indiana States and Purdues," Koeppen said. "That's always a good sign, when you're gaining ground on those big boys. We're not there yet, but we're not too far away."

Freshman Karson Tays led IUPUI's eight entries in the open race, finishing in a time of 26:45.88, putting him 11th of 123 runners. Classmate Xavier Reed was 13th in a time of 26:52.38 and redshirt freshman Max Zmija was 14th at 26:53.02. 

The Jaguars will return to action on Oct. 4 when they participate in the Notre Dame Invitational on the South Bend campus. 

Team Results
1. Indiana - 25
2. Purdue - 64
3. Indiana State - 72
4. IUPUI - 80
5. Evansville - 158
6. IPFW - 173

Individual Results
13. Joey Zielinski - 25:33.08
14. Sam Roudebush - 25:35.41
20. Miguel Lozano - 25:56.58
26. Spencer Burgin - 26:08.18
31. Peyton Reed - 26:22.76
33. Pryce Ragains - 26:24.41
34. Mitch Hubner - 26:27.09
39. Austin Young - 26:34.00
42. Damon Pruett - 26:50.39

Open Race Results
11. Karson Tays - 26:45.88
13. Xavier Reed - 26:52.38
14. Max Zmija - 26:53.02
16. Alec Kostelnik - 26:58.73
19. Sammy Tebeje - 27:11.35
24. Abiel Mogos - 27:25.20
31. Amos Schreuder - 27:58.49
32. Dakota Dubbs - 28:12.23