Men's Cross Country with CCIW Championship trophy and banner
ASHTIN ELDER PHOTO

Men's Cross Country

Men’s Cross Country Extends CCIW Title Run to 52 Straight

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

Results

Oct. 31, 2026 — The North Central College men's cross country team continued its dominant legacy at the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Championships, winning its 52nd straight title with senior BJ Sorg leading the charge with the first individual title of his career, and the first for the Cardinals since 2024. The Cardinal coaching staff also earned the 2026 Men's Cross Country Coaching Staff of the Year award while Sorg was named the CCIW Elite 26 recipient for the third straight season, awarded to the all-conference honoree with the highest grade-point average. Sorg was also voted the CCIW Championship Student-Athlete of the Meet. 

North Central scored 16 points in the win, just one shy of perfect. Carthage took second with 85 points, followed by Millikin in third with 93. Wheaton finished fourth (94), and Augustana took fifth (140).

In typical North Central fashion, the Cardinals wasted little time moving to the front right off the start line. 

Led by Daniel Kasperan, BJ Sorg, Ricky Klein, Ari Elmayan and Jack Galminas,  the lead group already began to separate in the first lap coming out of the woods. A lone North Park runner, Gunner Silva locked in with the Cardinals early on. 

North Central continued to extend the lead as the rest of the field started to thin throughout the second lap.

Making the cut towards the finish line, Sorg and Kasperan broke away and went head-to-head for the finish, with Sorg finishing half a step ahead in 24:05.3 to take the individual title while Kasperan was runner-up in 24:05.7.

Ricky Klein ran a great race to finish third in 24:37.6 with Ari Elmayan in fourth at 24:47.1. NPU's Silva broke up the Cardinals' perfect score by finishing fifth, but Rylan Deichen and Jack Galminas were not far behind in sixth (25:09.5) and seventh (25:20.0). 

Nolan Crooks also notched a top-10 finish in ninth (25:23.8) to round out the Cardinals All-CCIW First Team selections. Kyle Bryant and Carson Lanners finished 12th (25:45.3) and 14th (25:54.1) for All-CCIW Second Team honors.

The Cardinals look ahead to hosting the Red & White Invitational on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 4 p.m. back at St. James Farm.
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Players Mentioned

Nolan Crooks

Nolan Crooks

Senior
Rylan Deichen

Rylan Deichen

Junior
Ari Elmayan

Ari Elmayan

Junior
Jack Galminas

Jack Galminas

Sophomore
Daniel Kasperan

Daniel Kasperan

Sophomore
Ricky Klein

Ricky Klein

Junior
BJ Sorg

BJ Sorg

Senior
Kyle Bryant

Kyle Bryant

Freshman
Carson Lanners

Carson Lanners

Freshman

Players Mentioned

Nolan Crooks

Nolan Crooks

Senior
Rylan Deichen

Rylan Deichen

Junior
Ari Elmayan

Ari Elmayan

Junior
Jack Galminas

Jack Galminas

Sophomore
Daniel Kasperan

Daniel Kasperan

Sophomore
Ricky Klein

Ricky Klein

Junior
BJ Sorg

BJ Sorg

Senior
Kyle Bryant

Kyle Bryant

Freshman
Carson Lanners

Carson Lanners

Freshman