MARION, Ind. -- Three top-25 individual efforts were crucial for the Shawnee State men's cross country program at the Indiana Wesleyan University Twilight Invitational Friday evening, as Isaiah Lanoy's seventh-place run, Shawn Little's debut 20th-place time and Trevor Lanoy's impressive 25th finishing position while under the weather helped the Bears claim 178 points and a seventh-place finish in a 22-team meet at the Indiana Wesleyan University Cross Country Course in Marion, Ind.
Shawnee State was among four programs separated by just eight points from fourth through seventh positions, as Indiana-East's 170, Grace's 175, Campbellsville's 177 and SSU's 178 rounded out the fourth through seventh spots in the field. The Bears bested eighth-place Marian (Ind.), who was ranked 24th nationally in the NAIA Men's Cross Country Preseason Rating, by 55 markers.
"The competition was great as always at the Indiana Wesleyan University Twilight Invitational," second-year Shawnee State Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Conner Flynn said. "Being short handed and battling some unfortunate circumstances, I was very happy with the performance that the men displayed. Once this group is full and intact, they will have great things in store."
Competing in his first official 8K of his college career, Shawnee State freshman Isaiah Lanoy ran a blistering time of 25:17.1 to finish seventh overall in a massive 277-runner field. Isaiah Lanoy was one of 13 runners to run a time of under 25:30 in the meet, and finished less than 10 seconds off of a top-three overall finish.
Behind him, Little, who finished 20th with a 25:40.4, and Trevor Lanoy, who ran a 25:49 to finish 25th, were among 34 runners to run under 26 minutes in the 8K. Little finished just 10 seconds off of his NAIA All-American time from the NAIA Cross Country National Championships in 2023, while Trevor Lanoy ran just 13 seconds behind his personal best despite being under the weather for much of the week.
Dylan French, who finished 60th in the meet, was next in line. Finishing inside the top quarter of the field, French's time was just nine seconds back of his own personal best mark set last September at the Live in Lou XC Classic. Jerry O'Dell, who finished 85th with a 26:57.7, came up with a big effort to round out the top-five finishers for SSU -- and in doing so, also came within nine second of his personal best from last November's River States Conference Championship Meet.
Caden LaRue (100th, 27:16.5), Connor Darnell (105th, 27:21.8), Aidan Judd (108th, 27:24.8) and Rowen Lloyd (113th, 27:26.3) provided strong backup support for Shawnee State, while Jacob Naumovski (206th, 29:13.2), Luke Butler (207th, 29:13.7), Garrett Carver (229th, 29:33.9), Walker Pannell (232nd, 29:43.8) and Jared Flowers (236th, 29:58.8) rounded out the remaining Shawnee State competitors.
"The men had a good evening from different individual perspectives," Flynn said. "Isaiah held his own against some the NAIA's best, it's great to have Shawn back out there, and Trevor showed great toughness while being under the weather. Jerry O'Dell and Aidan Judd stepped up for us, while the young core of Caden LaRue, Connor Darnell, and Rowen Lloyd had a great opening 8,000 meters to help with depth."
The men's cross country program, along with the women's cross country program, will be back in action in what is a staple event for the Bears when Shawnee State competes in the All-Ohio Intercollegiate Cross Country Classic at the Elvin R. King Cross Country Course in Cedarville, Ohio.
"The performances and efforts will be beneficial long term for us for both teams," Flynn said. "Certain athletes have been placed in positions early on where we have needed them to step up, and they have done exactly that. Long term, the efforts at IWU will give them experience that we can depend on going forward."
