The 2012 season was one of change and newfound success for the Illinois men’s cross-country team. The Illini began the season with a new head coach in Jake Stewart, bringing expectations of success in the Big Ten, especially with two senior runners, Hunter Mickow and Jordan Hebert, to lead a very inexperienced squad. The team was primarily filled by freshmen and redshirt freshmen in what Stewart called the nation’s toughest long-distance running conference.

The first major test for Illinois came in the Notre Dame Invitational in South Bend, Ind., on Sept. 28. That meet was a point in the season in which the Illini’s top-two runners emerged as the team’s success stories. Mickow finished 24th in the meet, while Jannis Toepfer — a graduate student from Germany — finished behind his teammate in 27th. Their performances contributed to a 14th-place overall finish for the Illini. Though two runners boosted the team’s placement, Stewart said he hopes his squad improves on the sizeable time gap between his top-five runners.

The Illini’s toughest challenge came in the following meet at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational two weeks later in Madison, Wis. The Illini contended with 20 nationally ranked teams and nine Big Ten rivals. Once again, Mickow and Toepfer led the team, finishing first and second for the Illini, respectively. Both athletes set personal records in the 8K race. Redshirt freshman Ian Barnett also had a successful showing, placing third and setting a personal best. Illinois came away with a 24th-place finish as a team. Stewart said the meet provided a great deal of experience going into the conference championships.

Illinois’ preparation was put to the test in the Big Ten Championships in East Lansing, Mich. In a meet that they historically underperform in, the Illini fought their way to a fourth-place finish and a berth in the NCAA Midwest Regional. For the third straight meet, Mickow and Toepfer — who both garnered All-Big Ten honors — led the Illini. Toepfer ran the 10th-fastest time in school history, finishing a second ahead of Mickow. The team’s success at the Big Ten Championships put Illinois on the cusp of its first appearance in the NCAA Championships in 26 years.

With a berth in the national meet on the line at the Midwest Regionals in Springfield, Mo., the duo once again gave the Illini strong performances. Mickow led the team, placing sixth overall — the highest finish for an Illinois runner since Trent Hoerr in 2007. Toepfer finished 13th overall. Both earned all-region selections, which qualified them for their first national meet in their collegiate careers. For the second season in a row, the Illini sent two runners to the national championship.

While Illinois did succeed on the individual front, it finished fourth in the regionals. But much to their disappointment, the Illini barely missed out on a chance to clinch a spot in the national championships due to the results of other regional meets.

Heading into the NCAA Championships, Mickow and Toepfer were confident that they would be able to achieve All-American status at the meet. By the end of the meet in Louisville, Ky., Mickow missed the cut to reach All-American status. In his final meet of his collegiate career, Mickow finished 46th, six spots away from becoming an All-American. Toepfer placed 64th.

“We made plenty of great strides during the season,” Stewart said. “The performance throughout the season from both Jannis and Hunter were big steps forward for the program. Going forward, I’m excited to see how our group of redshirt freshmen develop during the track season and during the summer.”

Dan can be reached at [email protected].