Corey Ihmels’ second-place finish paced the Iowa State men’s cross country team to a third-place finish at the Illinois Invitational at Champaign, Ill. Saturday.

Ihmels, a two-time All-American, ran the course in 24 minutes 49 seconds, 12 seconds behind Jason Zieren of Illinois.

It was Ihmels’ first top-20 finish in the Cyclone’s second meet of the season.

“I think Corey is where he needs to be at this point of the season,” Iowa State Head Coach Kevin Bourke said. “He ran about as well on Saturday as Iexpected him to.”

Simeon Wright gave the Cyclones two top-five performers, finishing the course in 25:08 to finish fifth. Kevin Farrow came in 11th, Matt Thomas 14th and Jonathan Estabrook 17th and Justin Gottschalk rounded out the Cyclone top-20 performers with a 19th-place finish.

The Cyclone’s 49 points trailed only Illinois, 31 points, and Indiana, with 45, in the seven-team meet.

“I think things are moving along well for the team,” Bourke said. “But we have to look at the big picture. The time to be running well is at the conference and national meets.”

The next meet for the Cyclones will be the Iowa State Memorial Classic Saturday at 11:15 a.m. at the Iowa State cross country course.