JJC Cross Country Wraps Season with Top-Five Team Finishes, Individual National Champion

The Joliet Junior College (JJC) Wolves cross country teams traveled to Richmond, Virginia, for the NJCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships and came away with an individual national champion and team hardware. 

The men's team was led by the individual national champion Nathan Ciarlette while seventh-place All-American Gavin Carlson placed third. Ciarlette's win was the second for a Wolves runner in the past six years. Men’s cross country is the only JJC athletics program to have two individual champions in that span. 

"Nathan ran a perfect race and followed the race plan exactly how we had talked about it," head coach Jeff DeGraw said. "He was with the leaders the entire way and made his move with about 300 meters left in the race. The only time he led was down the final straightaway and continued to increase his lead until he crossed the finish line. Nathan learned a lot all season how to race in college and he put together all that knowledge in the most important race of the season. It was impressive."

Other individuals finishing in the top 20 include Gavin Carlson and Logan Schmidt. Carlson earned All-American honors with a seventh-place finish. 

"Gavin once again was a steady grinder as he moved up the entire race,” DeGraw said. “He has been so impressive the last two races and his performance at the regional meet gave him the confidence to do it again on the big stage. Logan Schmidt ran his best race of the season in finishing 20th place, just five places from achieving All-American status.”

The men earned 85 points to put the Wolves in third at the end of the meet. 

"I'm so proud of this team, because anytime you can win a team trophy at the national meet (top three) is a huge accomplishment," DeGraw said. 

The women placed fifth, as Gabby Zid finished eighth overall to achieve All-American status. Olivia Kics placed 16th, missing the top 15 by just nine tenths of a second. 

"The women ran well and have come so far this season,” DeGraw said. “Some of our women never ran cross country before and their development was because of their work ethic and belief that they could do it. 

"Gabby has been our leader all season and ran well. I felt bad for Olivia, especially missing All-American by less than a second. Adrienne Karpen ran her best race in two seasons and has really improved so much. To be the fifth best team in the country is pretty good and I'm so proud of this group."