After securing an Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference championship in fall 2020, the Cyclone men's cross country team is eager to make a repeat performance with speedy newcomers.

Even with limited travel and racing options last year, two runners finished first and second while the team reclaimed a championship run on Moraine Valley's campus. Three of those champs are back, but they aren't the traditional sophomores, said Head Coach Dimitri Dimizas, in his sixth season leading the program. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the college restricted practice days and only allowed races against community colleges last year because NCAA teams weren't competing. These runners didn't get a taste of racing university athletes from around the Midwest, which they normally do. This fall will be a true season for the entire team.

Last year's Skyway champion, Jackson Sima (Shepard), is ready to reprise the top spot again. Jimmy Duffy (Andrew) and Juan Ramos (Shepard), who made big improvements in the offseason, also have returned. Joining them are Brandon Armendarez (Reavis), Scott Beveridge (Argo), Nicholas Cunico (Andrew), Thomas Diaz (Argo), Gavin Hampton (Oak Lawn) and Ryan O'Connor (Lincoln-Way East).

Hampton and Diaz put in a lot of work over the summer and should be top runners. Cunico is one of the hardest workers on the team while Beveridge and O'Connor are multi-sport athletes with loads of talent to demonstrate at the college level. Armendarez is a late, new addition to the team, but based on his high school accomplishments, he should make an impact once he adapts to the longer distances of collegiate running.

"The goal is always to win conference, but I really want them to grow and work through this year especially for the runners coming back," Dimizas said. "We don't know what the other schools look like, but we still talk about going to nationals."