Contact: Taiah Gallisath-Poklop, Associate Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5302

Oct. 29, 2026 – With championship season set to begin in just two days, the fourth-ranked North Central College men's cross country team was predicted to take the College Conference of Illinois &  Wisconsin Championship crown for the 52nd consecutive year after being the unanimous choice via the annual pre-championship coaches' poll.

Cardinals on Top

North Central, who has won every CCIW title since 1974, received 64 points and all eight possible first-place votes in the poll. Carthage College finished second in the poll with 54 points while Millikin University was just two points back with 52 to sit third. Wheaton College (42) was fourth followed by Augustana College (33), Illinois Wesleyan University (28), Carroll University (21), Elmhurst University (21), and North Park University (9).

Last season, Carthage finished second behind the Cardinals at the conference meet, scoring 65 points and producing the CCIW Individual Champion. The Firebirds had two runners finish in the top-10 to break up the Cardinals' perfect slate.

Rankings Round-Up

North Central enters the CCIW Championships ranked fourth in the nation and second in the regional rankings. The Cardinals have posted six of the top seven 8K times in the conference this season, with Daniel Kasperan and BJ Sorg leading the way. Kasperan clocked a 23:51.3, his first time running sub-24 minutes, at the Augustana Interregional Invitational just two weeks ago while BJ Sorg was just behind in a personal best of 23:52.0, his second time under the 24-minute mark. 

According to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's (USTFCCCA) Cross Country Rating Index (XCRI), Sorg ranks second nationally in individual standings while Kasperan comes in at No. 5. The XCRI is a mathematical algorithm-based rating system that weighs runner's performances based on time, meet difficulty, and head-to-head matchups with other competitors. 

The Lead-Up

The Cardinals have produced four top three finishes this season including notable performances at the Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic and the Augustana Interregional Invitational. North Central turned in a third place finish at the Louisville Classic that featured 250 runners and a slew of ranked programs from all NCAA Divisions. Two weeks later, the Cardinals put together an exceptional race at the Augustana Interregional. North Central entered the meet as the 11th-ranked team in the nation and finished as the runner-up behind top-ranked Wartburg College. The Cardinals finished ahead of several nationally ranked NCAA Division III programs in the field, prompting the seven-slot jump in the USTFCCCA national rankings. 

Run It Back

At the 2025 CCIW Championships, North Central totaled just 20 points to claim its 51st straight title while all 10 runners in the conference lineup secured All-CCIW honors. Sorg finished as runner-up a season ago and will be vying for his fourth All-CCIW nod while the individual title is also within his reach. Kasperan will make his CCIW debut on Saturday as the sophomore is also in contention for the individual title. 

Sophomore Jack Galminas will make his second appearance at the CCIW meet after being named the CCIW First-Year Student-Athlete of the Meet and a first team All-CCIW selection last season. Also expected to make their return to the CCIW Championships and defend their All-CCIW honors from a year ago are Ari Elmayan, Nolan Crooks, and Ricky Klein. 

The 2026 CCIW Cross Country Championship will take place Saturday, Oct. 31, at St. James Farm in Warrenville, Ill., with Carroll University serving as the host institution. The women's 6K race is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., followed by the men's 8K race at 11:45 a.m. The Al Carius and Paul Olsen co-ed open race is set for 12:30 p.m. with the awards ceremony scheduled for 1:15 p.m. to close out the day. More information about the CCIW Championships can be found on the meet homepage at CCIW.org.