The Cyclones are working from a clean slate after a successful 2022.

The three runners on last season's roster graduated after having won an Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference championship and competing at the national tournament. Head Coach Dimitri Dimizas, in his eighth year leading the program, has been recruiting all year. He has four new runners to introduce to college cross country.

Annabel Lipkie (Stagg) will be the top runner. She is level headed with the skills and work ethic for plenty of running success. "My goal for her is to be All-Conference and All-Region as well as a national qualifier," Dimizas said. "All summer, she worked hard without teammates and did what the coaches asked. She has the potential."

The most recent additions to the team are all Sandburg graduates, Lizbeth Juarez-Castillo, Mariah Karamagianis and Naya Padayao, who are still working their way into the Cyclone family. "I trust their experiences as high school teammates will help them at this next level," Dimizas said.

"The whole team is freshmen, so we want them to learn as much as they can and gain experience at this level, which will transfer over to the following season," Dimizas added. "While I'm excited to see them grow over these next few months, I really hope they fall in love with the process of becoming great, embrace the new pressures that come with being a part of this program and learn as much as possible to make their time as Cyclones feel as successful as possible."

Dimizas will be joined again by second year assistant coach and Cyclone running alumnus David Alvarez. The Cyclones open their season on Friday, Sept. 1, at the Saints Twilight Invite in Channahon, Illinois.