Team Results I Individual Results I Open Race Results I Photo Gallery

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The IUPUI men's cross country team captured the program's first-ever Indiana Intercollegiates title on Friday night (Sept. 18), outdueling host Indiana State and the nation's No. 10 team, Indiana for the title. IUPUI, led by Robert Murphy and Joey Zielinski, posted a 40-point effort, edging Indiana State by three and Indiana by five.

"I'm really proud of our guys, from the top guys to the last guys on the team. This was a team effort. We had some guys really step up today," IUPUI Head Coach Chuck Koeppen said. "I told these guys earlier in the week that if they won this meet, it'd be something they'd remember forever and they came out and took care of business. I'm just incredibly proud of every single one of them."

Murphy finished third of 25 Division I runners in a time of 25:42.9 and was followed immediately by Zielinski, who crossed at 25:45.3.

Junior Damon Pruett was IUPUI's leader through the first half of the race as he opted to run with a cast of All-Americans that included Indiana State's John Mascari, USI's Johnnie Guy and UIndy's Alex Cushman. Zielinski and Murphy tucked in just behind the lead pack and looked to be running a workout pace through 5K. As the race progressed, Mascari and Guy separated while Pruett gave ground to his teammates en route to a seventh-place finish at 25:54.9.

The outcome was still in question as the teams came across the finish line, including a pack of Hoosiers, led by Rorey Hunter's sixth-place finish. IU had seven runners finish between the No. 8 and No. 15 spots ahead of the Jaguars' No. 5 runner, Max Zmija. Dakota Dubbs broke up the pack with an 11th-place finish at 26:12.4 and Zmija capped the scoring five in 16th at 26:21.1.

"We honestly didn't think we'd won it," Koeppen said. "We thought there were too many people in front of our five guy."

On the heels of last year's second-place finish, IUPUI continued the program's ascent in winning a second straight meet to start the season. For Koeppen, it completed a circle as well. The Hall of Fame coach won the Big State/Little State title in 1967 while a member of Ball State's men's cross country team.

On Friday, Mascari took the individual tape for the fourth straight year in a time of 24:57.2, followed by his teammate David Timlin at 25:34.7.

Abiel Mogos, running unattached, was IUPUI's top finisher in the open race, crossing at 25:58.3 in fifth-place of 123 runners. Xavier Reed and Griffin Miller, also running unattached, finished at 25:58.3 and 26:30.7, respectively.

The Jaguars will be back in action on Friday, Oct. 2 when they participate in the Notre Dame Invitational in South Bend, Ind..

Team Standings
1. IUPUI - 40
2. Indiana State - 43
3. Indiana - 45

Individual Results
3. Robert Murphy - 25:42.9
4. Joey Zielinski - 25:45.3
7. Damon Pruett - 25:54.9
11. Dakota Dubbs - 26:12.4
16. Max Zmija - 26:21.1
19. Adam Guth - 26:34.2
20. Peyton Reed - 26:39.2
21. Miguel Lozano - 26:43.9

Open/JV Race Results
16. Jeremy Breedlove - 27:11.1
17. Mitch Hubner - 27:22.6
29. Joel Thompson - 28:13.2