ROCK ISLAND, Ill.. — The Carthage men's cross country team competed in the 2025 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Men's Cross Country Championships on Saturday at the Saukie Golf Course. It was an historic afternoon for the Firebirds, as the squad placed second overall and were led by senior Jacob Curulewski, who claimed the individual CCIW Championship title. 
 

 
Carthage totaled 65 points en route to a second-place finish in the field of nine teams. No. 10 North Central (Ill.) claimed the team title with a score of 20. Wheaton (Ill.) placed third with 79 points, while Millikin (124) and Illinois Wesleyan (153) rounded out the top five teams. 
 

 
Curulewski led the Firebirds with a first-place finish, claiming the conference title with a personal best time of 23:57.2. Harlan Matson was the second Carthage runner to cross the finish line, finishing in eighth place with a personal best time of 25:19.7. Curulewski and Matson both earned First Team All-CCIW honors for their performances, while Curulewski was also named CCIW Athlete of the Meet. 

Connor Wood serves as the Firebirds third point-scorer this afternoon, earning Second Team All-CCIW honors with a 20th-place finish and a personal best performance of 26:07.6. Luke Adair followed Wood into the finish in 21st place with a personal best time of 26:10.3. Luke Davey rounded out the scoring five in 24th place with a season-best time of 26:22.5.



With today's win, Curulewski became the third athlete in program history to win an individual CCIW title, joining Dennis Kramer (1966, 1969) and Hamilton Beal (2002). Curulewski also ended a streak of 15 consecutive individual titles for student-athletes from North Central.



 Your team earned a runner-up finish today behind No. 10 North Central, highlighted by [Jacob] Curulewski's individual title in 23:57. What stood out to you most about the group's overall performance and how they handled the championship atmosphere?

"I was incredibly impressed with how focused our guys were this weekend," said Head Coach Josh Henry. "We've been a really good team this year with being mentally engaged and executing race plans well. Today just felt different though. The guys had a whole new level of focus and it was apparent throughout the race. They each executed flawlessly and left everything on the course. As a coach, I couldn't ask for more."

Carthage placed five runners inside the top 25, including strong races from Harlan [Matson], Connor [Wood], and freshman Luke [Adair]. How encouraging is it to see that kind of depth and balance across your lineup heading into the regional meet?

"I'm really proud of this group. We graduated 5 of last year's top 7 so it's been a bit of a 'rebuild' this season. We've had guys step up big time this year to fill the shoes of our departed seniors. To place 5 in the top 25 today is an incredible accomplishment. Harlan went from 33rd last year to 8th this year. Luke 32nd to 24th and Connor from the open race to all-conference. Additionally, the last Carthage freshman before Adair to finish in the top 25 was Jacob, who by all accounts, had himself a pretty good day today."

Jacob not only won the race but did so in dominant fashion with a sub-24 time — one of the best in program history. What does his performance say about his preparation this season and the example he's setting for the rest of the team?

"Jacob has been incredibly focused his entire time at Carthage. He's been a great leader of the team and just so darn good at being incredibly consistent in bringing an elite work ethic to practice. He certainly has made those around him better by his daily example. I would say I'm surprised he was able to win today because North Central and BJ [Sorg] are such great competitors. But it's been a goal of Jacob's since last fall to be a conference champ this year. He's just so darn tough that we've all learned to not doubt what Jacob sets his mind to accomplish."


 
The Firebirds return to action on Saturday, Nov. 15 at the NCAA Division III North Region Championship meet in Colfax, Wis. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.