USTFCCCA Rankings | Flo Track Rankings | Performance List
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Following the program's first bid to NCAA Championships in 30 years, the Illinois men's cross country team re-entered the USTFCCCA and FloTrack biweekly rankings, as announced Monday (11/14) afternoon. The Orange and Blue checked in at No. 24 in the USTFCCCA poll, while ranking No. 21 in the FloTrack ranking. The Illini compete at NCAA Championships this Saturday, November 19, at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Indiana. The men's race will begin at 11 a.m. central time.
The Orange and Blue are making their second appearance in the USTFCCCA rankings, after the making their season-debut at No. 29 on October 4. The Illini are one of three Big Ten squads in both polls, joining Big Ten champion Wisconsin (13/12) and Big Ten runner-up Michigan State (18/15).
The Fighting Illini will compete at NCAA Cross Country Championships for the first time since 1986 when longtime Head Coach Gary Wieneke and senior Joe Leuchtmann led the Illini to the national meet. The 2016 race will mark the 15th appearance at NCAA Championships, the first coming in 1941. Illinois' best finish came in 1956 when the team placed fourth.
Individually, the Illini boast 22 All-Americans, the most recent coming when senior Dylan Lafond, placed 29th overall at last year's meet. The only Illini to win an individual NCAA title was four-time All-American Craig Virgin in 1975.
Illini Notes:
- Illinois re-enters the USTFCCCA and FloTrack rankings, checking in at No. 24 and No. 21, respectively
- First NCAA Championships appearance in 30 years (1986)
- Orange and Blue are coming off the program's best regional meet finish since 2002
- Illini feature three All-Midwest Regional performances in Lafond (5th), Davis (17th) and Reiser (25th)
- Dylan Lafond is a returning All-American, placing 29th at 2015 NCAA Championships
- Head Coach Jake Stewart has hauled in back-to-back top-10 recruiting classes according to FloTrack
- Program's best NCAA Championships team finish was fourth in 1956
- Illini legend Craig Virgin won the 1975 NCAA individual title on his way to becoming the program's only four-time All-American
