Fernandez Runs Third Fastest Time in School History at DI Midwest Regional

Senior Chicago State cross country runner Jonnathan Fernandez ran the third fastest 10K time in school history, 31:51.02, to place 118th at the NCAA DI Midwest Regional this afternoon at the Ashton Cross Country Course in Iowa City, Iowa. 

Runners from over 30 Division I schools were tested in tough conditions with the temperature hovering around 25 degrees, with hail, snow and a 25-mile per hour wind.

"He had one the best cross country seasons in school history," outgoing director of cross country/track & field Paul Zavala said. "He should be proud of his accomplishments in his final season."

Wesley Kiptoo from Iowa State earned the individual title, crossing the finish line at 30:17.81 while Oklahoma State claimed the team title with 43 points, followed by Iowa State (57), Tulsa (65), Minnesota (30:57) and Illinois (210) rounded out the top five.

Fernandez, who will graduate in the spring of 2022, was Chicago State's lone competitor and he was the Cougars' top finisher in each meet this season. In his last race with his team, the Western Athletic Conference Championship in Riverside, California on Oct. 30, he improved his personal best time and moved up to second on the Cougars all-time best times list for an 8K race, clocking in at 25:30.0.

Chicago State University Athletics is comprised of 15 intercollegiate teams involving over 150 student-athletes that compete in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and volleyball. CSU held memberships in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and NCAA Division II before transitioning to NCAA Division I in 1994. Melvin Bland was the first CSU student-athlete to gain NAIA All-American status in 1974 as a wrestler. Fred Evans became the first black swimmer ever to win a national championship in 1975. CSU's women's basketball team earned a spot in the 2011 Women's Basketball Invitational and CSU's men's basketball team won the 2013 Great West Conference Tournament title and made an appearance in the CollegeInside.com Postseason Tournament (CIT).  The Men's Outdoor Track & Field 4x100-Meter Relay team were 2019 Honorable Mention All-Americans and WAC Champions. Their feat marked the first time the Chicago State's men's track & field program was represented at the national meet. 

For complete coverage of Chicago State University athletics, follow us on social media @ChiStateCougars (Twitter), @ChiStateCougars (Instagram), /ChiStateCougars (Facebook), or visit the official home of Chicago State athletics at GoCSUCougars.com.