The University of Illinois Cross Country and Track Clubs are competitive running teams designed so that everyone from beginning runners to All-State athletes can compete against NCAA and National Intercollegiate Running Club Association (NIRCA) competition. We travel all over the Midwest during both cross-country (fall) and track (spring) seasons, including NIRCA Cross-Country Regionals and Nationals and several prestigious NCAA meets. We are one of the foremost clubs in NIRCA, having finished 2nd (men) at Nationals in 2009 and 4th (both men and women) in 2010. In 2011 both the men and women took 1st place.
This year we competed in the National Club Track and Field Association (NCTFA). Our team took 1st place on both the men and women levels.
Despite our growing size and successes, we still are usually able to take as many people as we have car seats for to meets. We rarely have to leave people behind due to lack of room. Anyone can compete who is ready to. However, being a club team members usually have to pay a small fee (no more than $25 and generally $10-$15) for each meet to cover travel and other expenses.
Our Head Coach (For XC) and Distance Coach, Mark Hayes, along with Head Coach (for XC) and Steeple Coach Kevin Wolz, create event-specific training plans that prepare the team to do well in competition. Sprint coach Matt Halberthal, hurdles and javelin coach Ben Kanevsky, throws coach Matt Kmet and jumps coach Manny Del Rio have also designed their own training programs that have worked very well for us. Although all training plans are only event-specific, the coaches go to great lengths to meet and talk to all of their athletes and work with them individually on their training as much as possible.
Practice times vary by event group, so please contact your event coach to find out when practice is.
If you are interested or if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
Thank You and we hope to see you out competing with us soon! We generally meet daily at 4:15 at the west entrance of the Armory at 4th and Gregory during the school year.
View the Cross Country Club Constitution
View the Track Club Constitution
