ROMEOVILLE, Ill. -- Lewis University cross country head coach James Kearney has announced his 2024 recruiting class with the addition of 10 new runners, five women and five men to the program starting this fall.

"I am excited to work with these athletes and continue to build our culture of excellence," Kearney said. 

Women
Kristina Findley (Lyons Township/LaGrange, Ill.)
Findley joins Lewis from Lyons Township High School. Findley is an eight-time IHSA State Qualifier while receiving All-State honors in 2023 as part of the 3200 relay that finished fourth overall. Her personal bests are 2:21 for 800 meters and 18:55 for cross country.   

Madison Findley (Lyons Township/LaGrange, Ill.)
Findley joins her sister Kristina at Lewis. Findley is a five-time IHSA State Qualifier at Lyons Township. Findley has recorded personal bests of 2:21 for 800 meters and 18:30 for cross country.  

Julie Macias (Bremen/Midlothian, Ill.)
Macias joins Lewis from Bremen High School, where she was an IHSA State Qualifier in cross country.

Macias won two South Suburban Conference titles this spring for the Braves in the 1600 and 3200 meter runs.  She has personal bests of 5:43 for 1600, 12:04 for 3200 and 19:19 for cross country.  

Sarah May (Grand Valley State/Elmhurst, Ill.)
May is a graduate transfer from Grand Valley State. May brings experience from her NCAA Appearance after qualifying in 2023 in 5000 meters. 

May was a standout performer for the Lakers with personal bests of 4:58 for the mile, 9:52 for 3000 and 16:44 for 5000 meters.  She was the GLIAC runner-up in 2024 for the 5000 meter run and won the GLIAC title at 5000 in 2023.  

Janellisa Oceguera (Joliet West/Joliet, Ill.)
Oceguera joins Lewis from Joliet West High School where she was a three-time IHSA State Qualifier and two-time state medalist.

Oceguera brings middle distance to the Flyers.  Her 2:14 performance at the 2024 IHSA state finals was not only a personal best but earned her All-State honors. 

Her personal bests are 58.99 for 400, 2:14 for 800, 5:25 for 1600 and 11:41 for 3200.  In her senior season for the TIgers, Oceguera had a personal best of 18:15 and was all SPC in 2023 in cross country
 
Men
Leo Gartlan (Loras/Downers Grove, Ill.)
Gartian transfers to Lewis from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. Prior to his time at Loras, Gartian was a two-time state qualifier from Downers Grove North. 

Gartlan was a member of the Nike Team Nationals Qualifying Team at Downers Grove North that finished 11^th in the nation in 2022.  He recorded personal bests of 15:27 for cross country and 4:30 for 1600 and 9:56 for 3200.  

Declan Hurley (Lincoln-Way East/Frankfort, Ill.)
Hurley comes to Lewis from Lincoln-Way East where he boasts personal bests of 9:56 for 3200, 4:37 for 1600 and 16:05 for three miles.  

Gavin Jenkins (VMI/Chester Gap, Va.)
After running this past spring for the Flyers for the track and field team, Jenkins will compete in cross country for Lewis this fall. 

Jenkins has personal bests of 4:08 for the mile, 14:21 for 5k, 8:44 for the steeplechase and was a NCAA regional qualifier for VMI in the steeplechase.  

Oscar Montiel (Shephard/Worth, Ill.)
Montiel comes to Lewis from Shepard High School in Illinois where he had a personal best of 4:44 for 1600.  

Cole Sutton (Drury/ O'Fallon, Mo.)
A transfer from fellow GLVC school Drury, Sutton was the GLVC runner-up this past spring in the 1500.  Sutton is the former 800 school record holder and 1500 school record holder at Drury. 

Sutton moves to Romeoville with personal bests of 1:52 for 800, 3:50 for 1500, 4:14 for the mile and 25:34 for 8K. 

Lewis begins its season Friday, September 6 as the Flyers host the Flyer Early Bird Invite at Lewis Cross Country Course. The men's race starts at 6 p.m. while the women's competition will be at 6:45 p.m.