JOLIET, Ill. -- Led by Sam Mickelson's individual title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase event, eight members of the University of St. Francis men's track & field program contributed to the Fighting Saints' 43 total points at the 2025 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Men's Outdoor Track & Field Championships over the weekend at Joliet Memorial Stadium.  That landed USF a sixth-place finish among eight squads at the meet.

Olivet Nazarene University gained the team title with its 262 points, while St. Ambrose University was second with 215 and Saint Xavier University third with 153.

Mickelson dominated his field of 13 competitors in the steeplechase, finishing 24.97 seconds ahead of the second-place contender with a time of 9:29.50 for 10 points.  He also secured six points for the Saints in the 5,000-meter run, with a third-place time of 15:10.43.  Mickelson edged out teammate Michael Reif in the latter event by less than three seconds, as Reif placed fourth overall with a time of 15:14.00 for five points.

Also locking in a third-place finish on the day was Scott Tumilty in the 100-meter race.  The graduate senior crossed the finish line at 10.57.  He finished fifth overall in the 200-meter event as well, with a time of 21.38 to gain a combined 10 points to the Saints' total.

Scoring in a pair of individual events was Jerrico Rodriguez.  Rodriguez recorded a fifth-place performance in the 400-meter hurdles (57.96) as well as an eighth-place finish in the long jump (6.25m) to secure five points for the Saints.

Jack Wright gained the remaining two individual points for USF with his seventh place showing in the 1,500-meter run (4:03.86), while he was also part of USF's fourth-place finisher in the 4x800-meter relay along with Alberto Fernandez Arango, Manuel Soto and Scott Crabb.  The four-man contingent produced a time of 8:12.46 for five points.

By placing in the top three in their respective events, Mickelson and Tumilty both secured all-conference honors.

Saint Xavier's Ayobami Arokoyo garnered Outstanding Field Event Performer honors, while Olivet Nazarene's Joseph Randle claimed the Outstanding Track Event Performer accolades.  Olivet Nazarene's Ben Wilson was named the meet's MVP.

Olivet Nazarene's Kyle Rago was named the CCAC Coach of the Year, while Olivet Nazarene's Zontavius Johnson was tagged as the league's Assistant Coach of the Year.

Up Next
The Saints are back in action next Friday and Saturday (May 9-10) when they host their own Fighting Chance Invite.

You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on X @USFSaints.