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Decatur Today
By the People, for the People
Prairie Stars Distance Squad Shines at WashU Distance Carnival
UIS men's track and field team sets multiple personal bests in 5,000m and 10,000m races to open outdoor season.
Mar. 28, 2026 at 9:15am
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The UIS men's track and field team opened its outdoor season with a strong performance at the WashU Distance Carnival, with several athletes setting personal bests in the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter races. Highlights included junior Joey Karlesky finishing 19th overall in the 10,000m with a time of 31:03, and junior Matt Padilla closely behind in 24th with a time of 31:06.
Why it matters
The Prairie Stars' impressive showing at the season-opening meet signals the team's potential for a successful outdoor campaign, building momentum as they look to build on their past achievements and compete at a high level in the coming months.
The details
In the men's 5,000 meters, freshman River Derby posted a personal-best time of 15:43, while sophomore Lucas Naugle recorded a personal-best 16:13. The team's 10,000-meter runners were particularly impressive, with four athletes setting personal bests. Junior Joey Karlesky finished 19th overall with a time of 31:03, while junior Matt Padilla was 24th at 31:06. Sophomore Dominic Cantarini ran 31:25, and senior Isaac Cortes crossed in 31:33.
- The WashU Distance Carnival took place on March 27, 2026.
The players
River Derby
A freshman on the UIS men's track and field team who set a personal best in the 5,000-meter race.
Lucas Naugle
A sophomore on the UIS men's track and field team who set a personal best in the 5,000-meter race.
Joey Karlesky
A junior on the UIS men's track and field team who finished 19th overall in the 10,000-meter race with a personal-best time of 31:03.
Matt Padilla
A junior on the UIS men's track and field team who finished 24th overall in the 10,000-meter race with a personal-best time of 31:06.
Emmons King
The head coach of the UIS men's track and field team.
What they’re saying
“I couldn't be more excited for how our 5k and 10k squads opened up today! We saw multiple personal bests and new additions to the record book top-10. This will give us great momentum into the rest of the outdoor season!”
— Emmons King, Head Coach
What’s next
UIS continues its opening weekend at the Millikin Big Blue Opener on Saturday starting at 10 a.m.
The takeaway
The Prairie Stars' impressive performance at the season-opening WashU Distance Carnival, with multiple personal bests and strong showings in the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter races, positions the team well for a successful outdoor campaign and builds excitement for the rest of the season.
