TERRE HAUTE - The Carthage men's cross country team is set to compete in the 2024 NCAA Division III Men's Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Nov. 23 at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course. This is the first time the Firebirds have competed in the NCAA Championships since 1977, and the first time the team has ever been selected to compete in the event. The field will feature 32 teams and 70 student-athletes competing individually from across the country.



The Firebirds kicked off their season on Sept. 6 at the Parkside Vic Godfrey Open, where the team placed second and came just shy of defeating the hosting Parkside Rangers. The team came home with a seventh place finish the following week at the Concordia Wisconsin Ken Weidt Classic, before bouncing back with another second place finish on Sept. 21 at the Wheaton (Ill.) Gil Dodds Invitational.

After an off weekend, the team traveled to Northfield, Minn. on Oct. 5 to compete in the Carleton Running of the Cows. The Firebirds placed fourth in the event and entered the USTFCCCA North Region rankings at No. 8. On Saturday, Oct. 19, the team spread their efforts at two meets, with the top scorers for the team going to the Augustana (Ill.) Interregional Invitational and the remainder of the team competing in the Wisconsin Private College Championships, where the team would place fifth. At Augustana, the team placed 12th out of 40 teams and defeated No. 20 UChicago. It was the first ranked win for the Firebirds under Head Coach Josh Henry.

The postseason began on Nov. 2 at the CCIW Cross Country Championships in Warrenville, Ill. The Firebirds took third place, finishing with a team score of 66 points and coming one point shy of upsetting No. 29 Augustana. It was the best score the team had earned at the CCIW Championships since 1975. The team was later ranked No. 30 in the USTFCCCA National Rankings, the highest ranking in program history.

Last weekend, the Firebirds returned to Northfield, Minn. on Saturday, Nov. 16 for the NCAA Division III North Region Cross Country Championships. The team placed sixth overall, the highest team finish ever at the North Regional, and punched their ticket to the NCAA Championship meet.



JOSH HENRY | HEAD COACH



Josh Henry was named Head Coach of the Carthage men's cross country program in 2014 and he has lifted the Firebirds to the level of being a national championship qualifying program over the past 11 seasons in Kenosha. Henry has coached the program to multiple second-place finishes at the CCIW Championships, as well as the highest finish at the NCAA North Region Championships with a sixth place finish in 2024.

"I am so proud of this group and what they continue to accomplish," said Henry "Their selection to this year's NCAA Championship is well deserved. They've consistently performed at a high level all season long and had their best performance when it mattered most for qualification. While this is a huge accomplishment for the program, I know the guys are heading to Terre Haute motivated for more than just being there. We're excited to compete with the nation's best and add to the accomplishments of this special season."

MICAH ANDERSON | GRADUATE STUDENT | KENOSHA, WIS.



Micah Anderson is in his fifth season with the Firebirds and has been a staple to the program since he first started at Carthage. In the 2024 track & field season, Anderson placed fourth in the mile with a time of 4:15.34 and was a part of the CCIW Champion Distance Medley Relay team for the Firebirds. Anderson's fastest time in the 8,000 meters this fall came at the Augustana Interregional, where he placed 53rd in 25:21.7.

JACOB CURULEWSKI | JUNIOR | DOWNERS GROVE, IL.



Jacob Curulewski has taken the Division III world by storm in 2024. The junior placed sixth at the 2024 CCIW Championships, earning All-CCIW First Team Honors. Curulewski then earned All-Region honors following a sixth-place finish at the 2024 NCAA North Region Cross Country Championships. Curulewski was also named CCIW Men's Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Week following his performance at the Carleton Running of the Cows.

"Making nationals means so much to me because it was a task accomplished through so much effort and teamwork on everyone's part," said Curulewski. "It seemed like such a tall order at the beginning of the season but everyone put in 110 percent effort, clutched up, and achieved something never before done in Carthage cross country history. I'm incredibly proud to be a part of this team."

LUKE DAVEY | SOPHOMORE | CHICAGO, IL.



Luke Davey took a big leap forward in his sophomore season with the Firebirds. He finished in 32nd place at the 2024 CCIW Championship meet, which was an 18 spot improvement from his finish in 2023. The 2024 CCIW Championships was also Davey's fastest performance of the year with a time of 26:11.7.

"Making nationals is a goal every athlete has," remarked Davey. "Being able to do it with this group of guys, with almost all of them being fifth years, is a great way to send them off. I'm very happy to see the training we put in during the summer paid off in November."

DEREK GARMIRE | GRADUATE STUDENT | STURGIS, MICH.



Derek Garmire is competing in his fifth season with the Firebirds after joining the team in the fall of 2020. His best race of the season came at the CCIW Championships, where he finished in 22nd place with a personal best time of 25:40.7 and served as the Firebirds fourth fastest runner on the scoreboard.

"Making Nationals is a reflection of years of hard work, dedication, consistency, grit, and faith," said Garmire. "It shows that anything is achievable when you believe in yourself, learn from your failures, and have a supportive group with a shared goal."

CRAIG HUNDLEY II | SENIOR | GRAYSLAKE, IL.



Craig Hundley II has one of the most unique collegiate athletics resumes that you will find amongst Carthage student-athletes. Hundley joined the Firebirds in the fall of 2020 and quickly became a household name in the CCIW. He won the mile with a time of 4:15.05 at the 2022 CCIW Indoor Track & Field Championships and was a national qualifier in cross country in the fall of 2022. In 2023, Hundley transferred to Wis-Whitewater, where he would go on to earn All-American honors in the DMR with the Warhawks at the 2024 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships. At the conclusion of the 2023-2024 track season, Hundley decided to return to Carthage for his final year of college and compete for the Firebirds once again. Hundley placed fifth at the CCIW Championships, earning All-CCIW First Team honors with teammate Curulewski. He then placed 21st at the NCAA North Region Championships to earn All-Region honors as well.

"Making Nationals with this team means quite a lot," added Hundley. "This was done for not ourselves but for all the alumni before us, all the people doubting us, and of course for Coach Henry. Going individually was never really an outcome in my head anymore, I knew we could get it done as a team and change the narrative. I'm beyond proud of all of my guys and the history we have made as not just teammates, but lifelong brothers."

HARLAN MATSON | FRESHMAN | PLAINFIELD, IL.



Harlan Matson joined the team in the fall of 2024 and quickly made his mark with a 10th place finish at the Vic Godfrey Open. Matson's fastest day came at the CCIW Championships, where he finished in 33rd place with a time of 26:13.8.

"Making nationals means a lot to me because it shows how hard the team has worked this season to get to this point," said Matson. "Also being a freshman and getting to have this experience so early on is really exciting and a great thing to learn from. I am really proud of this team and what they have accomplished this year!"

TREVOR SWANSON | GRADUATE STUDENT | CHABANSE, IL.



Trevor Swanson has made the most of his fifth season with the Firebirds. Swanson's fastest day came at the NCAA Regional Championships, where he placed 49th in a personal best 25:31.3. He also saw a ninth place finish at the Vic Godfrey Open and a 19th place finish at the Carleton Running of the Cows.

"Qualifying for the national meet means everything to me," said Swanson. "It is the culmination of 5 years in the making for me and my best friends. We set this goal our freshman year and have worked so hard to get to the big dance. It is nice to finally see the hard work paying off but I'm even more motivated to run great this weekend."

ETHAN WALKER | GRADUATE STUDENT | ELBURN, IL.



Ethan Walker has consistently been a top contributor for the Firebirds over the past five seasons. In the 2024 cross country season, Walker placed 15th at the CCIW Championships with a personal best time of 25:08 to earn his fourth career All-CCIW recognition in cross country. Walker also placed eighth in back to back meets at the Vic Godfrey Open and Gil Dodds Invitational to open his season.

"This is a defining moment of 'this was worth it,'" remarked Walker. "With some of us staying an extra year, taking days off work, missing time with family and loved ones, and added stress academically; it's everything to make it here after so much hard work and sacrifice."

CONNOR WOOD | JUNIOR | DOWNERS GROVE, IL.



Connor Wood joined the Firebirds in the fall of 2022 and worked his way up to being one of the top contributors this season. Wood's fastest race of the season came at the CCIW Championships where he placed 49th and ran a personal best 26:53.0. He also ran a personal best 6,000-meter race at the Vic Godfrey Open.

"Making nationals has been our team's goal since starting the season," added Wood. "So being able to accomplish that goal has been such a rewarding feeling. This is a major milestone in our program and I'm so grateful to be a part of history. This is just the beginning and I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds."



The 2024 NCAA Division III Men's Cross Country Championship 8,000-meter race will begin at 12 p.m. EST. at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Ind. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.



Photos courtesy of Abbey Calhoun and Aidan O'Neill.