No. 21 Trailblazers start postseason with strong showing at windy Region 24 meet

CHARLESTON, Ill. – The No. 21-ranked Vincennes University Men's and Women's Cross Country teams began their 2023 postseason Thursday afternoon with the 2023 NJCAA Region 24 Championships hosted at Eastern Illinois University.

The Blazers were one of three teams competing Thursday but were again in a unique situation, being the only Division I team competing, with Heartland CC and Kaskaskia College both being Division II in Cross Country.

The day began with the women's 5k and the No. 21 VU women's team more than held their own, with four of the Blazers' six runners posting season best times.

Freshman Adi Fuller (Evansville, Ind.) paced the VU runners, coming away with the honor of being NJCAA Division I Region 24 individual champion with a time of 20:57.1 and finishing sixth overall out of 22 runners competing.

Sophomore Ada Peterman (Clay City, Ill.)  and freshman Lani Baskett (Sebree, Ky.) were next across the line, with Peterman posting a time of 21:35.0 and Baskett crossing the line at 21:41.1 for 10th and 11th place overall.

Freshman Jasmyn Self (Casey, Ill.) took the fourth spot for the Blazers, finishing with a time of 22:32.6 and taking 13th overall.

Freshmen Grayson Haynes (Sebree, Ky.) and Madeline Esslinger (Bloomington, Ind.) closed out the day for the VU women's team, with Haynes ending with a time of 23:53.6 and Esslinger ending at 24:33.0.

Haynes placed 17th overall and Esslinger took 19th overall, with the VU women's team placing second overall with 50 points.

"Today was a good tune up before Nationals," VU Head Cross Country Coach Tyler Steigenga said. "The wind was really difficult to run though, especially during the men's race. The women had their best meet of the season and did really well with four of the six runners running season bests (Adi, Ada, Jasmyn and Grayson) and Lani was just off of hers."

"They did a really good job of fighting through the conditions and have set themselves up well for a solid finish at the National meet," Steigenga added. "Adi especially has come a long way in the past three weeks. She has the potential to be a really good low stick for us at Nationals."

The men's 8k closed out the day at Eastern Illinois University, where the No. 21 VU men's team had another great race, with three Trailblazers placing in the top-10 overall.

Freshman Cody Noel (Hebron, Ind.) paced the VU men's team with a time of 27:17.2, taking second overall in the race and collecting NJCAA Division I Region Champion honors.

Freshman Tanner Spence (Carmi, Ill.) had a big finish to his race, turning it on down the final stretch to pass a few runners to take sixth overall out of 28 runners with a time of 27:50.9.

Freshman Caden Hostetler (LaGrange, Ind.) was the third VU runner in the top-10, taking 10th overall with a finishing time of 28:24.7.

Sophomore Griffin Worzella (Martinsville, Ind.) and freshman John Hackney (Evansville, Ind.) were the next VU runners across the line, with Worzella ending his day at 29:56.3 and Hackney posting a time of 30:05.7, good for 16th overall for Worzella and 17th for Hackney.

Sophomore Matthew Gray (Washington, Ind.) and freshman Max Pendley (French Lick, Ind.) rounded out the Trailblazers day with Gray posting a time of 31:27.5 and Pendley crossing the line with a time of 33:49.4.

The VU men's team placed second overall with a total of 43 points.

"We had a solid top three for the men," Steigenga said. "Cody went out with the front pack and moved up the field to finish second. Tanner also worked his way up the field and had a great kick to pass three runners in the home stretch and was the only one on the men's team to finish with a PR. John also had a solid race and was just off his PR."

"We have the potential to do well on the men's side at Nationals, but it all depends on how our fourth and fifth runners do," Steigenga added. "Nathan has been up there with Tanner and Caden all season but has been dealing with a knee injury. The biggest unknown is where our fifth runner will be Ever since we lost Isaac, that has been the key to how well we can do. We have three guys that can step up to fill that role but we'll have to wait and see."

The VU Cross Country teams will now have over two weeks to prepare for the 2023 NJCAA Division I National Championships on Saturday, Nov. 11 at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Ala.

The 2023 VU Cross Country season will then conclude on Tuesday, Nov. 14 with the 2023 NJCAA Half Marathon National Championships, also held at John Hunt Park in Huntsville.

MEET RESULTS

WOMEN'S RESULTS

Heartland – 15

VINCENNES – 50

Kaskaskia – 75

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

Adi Fuller (6) – 20:57.1

Ada Peterman (10) – 21:35.0

Lani Baskett (11) – 21:41.1

Jasmyn Self (13) – 22:32.6

Grayson Haynes (17) – 23:53.6

Madeline Esslinger (19) – 24:33.0

MEN'S RESULTS

Heartland – 20

VINCENNES – 43

Kaskaskia – 74

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

Cody Noel (2) – 27:17.2

Tanner Spence (6) – 27:50.9

Caden Hostetler (10) – 28:24.7

Griffin Worzella (16) – 29:56.3

John Hackney (17) – 30:05.7

Matthew Gray (22) – 31:27.5

Max Pendley (26) – 33:49.4