Chicago State University Men's Cross Country

Powenski began coaching at CSU as an assistant mens cross country/track and field coach in the fall of 1998. Since CSU began its NCAA Division I membership, every current mens middle and long distance record in cross country, indoor and outdoor track is held by a student-athlete trained by Powenski. He guided four runners to compete in the NCAA Midwest Regional and has had several student-athletes capture Academic All-Western Athletic Conference honors since 2013. The 2013-14 year saw new records at 1,000 meters and 3,000 meters for mens indoor track and at 1,500 meters for mens outdoor track. Oslyn Melissa Collins became the new womens three-mile record holder in cross country. Powenski has had two of his student-athletes receive honors as being Mens Athlete of the Year for CSU (David Comiskey and Matthew Jordan). Powenski began his collegiate career at North Park University before transferring to Chicago State in 1974, competing in the NCAA National Championships in 1972 (Collegiate Division) and 1973 (Division III). In 1972, he also competed in the AAU National Championships.  As a Cougar, Powenski advanced as an individual and competed in the 1975 NAIA National Championships. He graduated from CSU in 1978 B.A. in Geography-Urban and Regional Planning. Upon graduation, Powenski pursued a professional career in banking and finance, began training again and competed in the Corporate Club Circuit during his years at Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust as well as road racing at distances from 5,000 meters through marathons. The 2016 campaign marks Steve Powenskis sixth as the head coach of the Chicago State mens and womens cross country teams. Powenski began coaching at CSU as an assistant mens cross country/track and field coach in the fall of 1998. Since CSU began its NCAA Division I membership, every current mens middle and long distance record in cross country, indoor and outdoor track is held by a student-athlete trained by Powenski. He guided four runners to compete in the NCAA Midwest Regional and has had several student-athletes capture Academic All-Western Athletic Conference honors since 2013. The 2013-14 year saw new records at 1,000 meters and 3,000 meters for mens indoor track and at 1,500 meters for mens outdoor track. Oslyn Melissa Collins became the new womens three-mile record holder in cross country. Powenski has had two of his student-athletes receive honors as being Mens Athlete of the Year for CSU (David Comiskey and Matthew Jordan). Powenski began his collegiate career at North Park University before transferring to Chicago State in 1974, competing in the NCAA National Championships in 1972 (Collegiate Division) and 1973 (Division III). In 1972, he also competed in the AAU National Championships.  As a Cougar, Powenski advanced as an individual and competed in the 1975 NAIA National Championships. He graduated from CSU in 1978 B.A. in Geography-Urban and Regional Planning. Upon graduation, Powenski pursued a professional career in banking and finance, began training again and competed in the Corporate Club Circuit during his years at Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust as well as road racing at distances from 5,000 meters through marathons.

Powenski began coaching at CSU as an assistant mens cross country/track and field coach in the fall of 1998. Since CSU began its NCAA Division I membership, every current mens middle and long distance record in cross country, indoor and outdoor track is held by a student-athlete trained by Powenski. He guided four runners to compete in the NCAA Midwest Regional and has had several student-athletes capture Academic All-Western Athletic Conference honors since 2013. The 2013-14 year saw new records at 1,000 meters and 3,000 meters for mens indoor track and at 1,500 meters for mens outdoor track. Oslyn Melissa Collins became the new womens three-mile record holder in cross country. Powenski has had two of his student-athletes receive honors as being Mens Athlete of the Year for CSU (David Comiskey and Matthew Jordan). Powenski began his collegiate career at North Park University before transferring to Chicago State in 1974, competing in the NCAA National Championships in 1972 (Collegiate Division) and 1973 (Division III). In 1972, he also competed in the AAU National Championships.  As a Cougar, Powenski advanced as an individual and competed in the 1975 NAIA National Championships. He graduated from CSU in 1978 B.A. in Geography-Urban and Regional Planning. Upon graduation, Powenski pursued a professional career in banking and finance, began training again and competed in the Corporate Club Circuit during his years at Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust as well as road racing at distances from 5,000 meters through marathons. The 2016 campaign marks Steve Powenskis sixth as the head coach of the Chicago State mens and womens cross country teams. Powenski began coaching at CSU as an assistant mens cross country/track and field coach in the fall of 1998. Since CSU began its NCAA Division I membership, every current mens middle and long distance record in cross country, indoor and outdoor track is held by a student-athlete trained by Powenski. He guided four runners to compete in the NCAA Midwest Regional and has had several student-athletes capture Academic All-Western Athletic Conference honors since 2013. The 2013-14 year saw new records at 1,000 meters and 3,000 meters for mens indoor track and at 1,500 meters for mens outdoor track. Oslyn Melissa Collins became the new womens three-mile record holder in cross country. Powenski has had two of his student-athletes receive honors as being Mens Athlete of the Year for CSU (David Comiskey and Matthew Jordan). Powenski began his collegiate career at North Park University before transferring to Chicago State in 1974, competing in the NCAA National Championships in 1972 (Collegiate Division) and 1973 (Division III). In 1972, he also competed in the AAU National Championships.  As a Cougar, Powenski advanced as an individual and competed in the 1975 NAIA National Championships. He graduated from CSU in 1978 B.A. in Geography-Urban and Regional Planning. Upon graduation, Powenski pursued a professional career in banking and finance, began training again and competed in the Corporate Club Circuit during his years at Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust as well as road racing at distances from 5,000 meters through marathons.

Collins is responsible for all aspects of the Cougars mens & womens indoor and outdoor teams. Since taking over the program, Collins' student-athletes have set school records in 38 different events. This total includes records for men's indoor (9), men's outdoor (8), women's indoor (12) and women's outdoor (9). Jaya Emerson graduated in 2014 with school records in the shot put (indoor and outdoor), weight throw, discus, hammer and javelin. She was named Chicago State's 2013-14 Female Senior Athlete of the Year for her decorated career. Collins first full semester as CSU head coach in 2012 was highlighted by the performance of Kelvin White. The St. Petersburg, Fla. native was named the 2012 Great West Conference Men's Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year. White helped CSU post its best ever finish in the event with a fourth-place showing at the GWC Indoor Championships. White shattered personal-best, CSU indoor and GWC indoor records by winning his second consecutive GWC 60-meter hurdles title with a time of 8.04 and also placed third in the long jump at a mark of 22-3.50. Collins came to CSU with coaching experience at the collegiate and high school levels for over a decade and has tutored numerous athletes at both levels to national recognition in various events. Collins served as the assistant coach for Robert Morris University for two seasons, where he coached sprints, jumps and hurdles.  Prior to his stint at RMU, Collins coached for fourteen years in the Chicago Public Schools system as head coach at Phillips, North Lawndale College Prep and Kenwood Academy. During his coaching career, Collins has produced 21 IHSA state finalists, 14 NCAA Division I regional competitors with three D-I national qualifiers, and 11 USA Track & Field Junior All-Americans. Collins competed as a sprinter at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., from 1986-88 before earning his bachelors degree in 1991. After graduating from IU, he became a member of USA Track & Field and presided over the Chicago Striders, a non-profit track and field youth organization that exposes inner city youth to the fundamentals of track and field. Collins also received his Level II certificate in jumps from USATF. Craig Collins was named head coach of the Chicago State track and field program in December of 2011. Collins is responsible for all aspects of the Cougars mens & womens indoor and outdoor teams. Since taking over the program, Collins' student-athletes have set school records in 38 different events. This total includes records for men's indoor (9), men's outdoor (8), women's indoor (12) and women's outdoor (9). Jaya Emerson graduated in 2014 with school records in the shot put (indoor and outdoor), weight throw, discus, hammer and javelin. She was named Chicago State's 2013-14 Female Senior Athlete of the Year for her decorated career. Collins first full semester as CSU head coach in 2012 was highlighted by the performance of Kelvin White. The St. Petersburg, Fla. native was named the 2012 Great West Conference Men's Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year. White helped CSU post its best ever finish in the event with a fourth-place showing at the GWC Indoor Championships. White shattered personal-best, CSU indoor and GWC indoor records by winning his second consecutive GWC 60-meter hurdles title with a time of 8.04 and also placed third in the long jump at a mark of 22-3.50. Collins came to CSU with coaching experience at the collegiate and high school levels for over a decade and has tutored numerous athletes at both levels to national recognition in various events. Collins served as the assistant coach for Robert Morris University for two seasons, where he coached sprints, jumps and hurdles.  Prior to his stint at RMU, Collins coached for fourteen years in the Chicago Public Schools system as head coach at Phillips, North Lawndale College Prep and Kenwood Academy. During his coaching career, Collins has produced 21 IHSA state finalists, 14 NCAA Division I regional competitors with three D-I national qualifiers, and 11 USA Track & Field Junior All-Americans. Collins competed as a sprinter at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., from 1986-88 before earning his bachelors degree in 1991. After graduating from IU, he became a member of USA Track & Field and presided over the Chicago Striders, a non-profit track and field youth organization that exposes inner city youth to the fundamentals of track and field. Collins also received his Level II certificate in jumps from USATF.

Collins is responsible for all aspects of the Cougars mens & womens indoor and outdoor teams. Since taking over the program, Collins' student-athletes have set school records in 38 different events. This total includes records for men's indoor (9), men's outdoor (8), women's indoor (12) and women's outdoor (9). Jaya Emerson graduated in 2014 with school records in the shot put (indoor and outdoor), weight throw, discus, hammer and javelin. She was named Chicago State's 2013-14 Female Senior Athlete of the Year for her decorated career. Collins first full semester as CSU head coach in 2012 was highlighted by the performance of Kelvin White. The St. Petersburg, Fla. native was named the 2012 Great West Conference Men's Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year. White helped CSU post its best ever finish in the event with a fourth-place showing at the GWC Indoor Championships. White shattered personal-best, CSU indoor and GWC indoor records by winning his second consecutive GWC 60-meter hurdles title with a time of 8.04 and also placed third in the long jump at a mark of 22-3.50. Collins came to CSU with coaching experience at the collegiate and high school levels for over a decade and has tutored numerous athletes at both levels to national recognition in various events. Collins served as the assistant coach for Robert Morris University for two seasons, where he coached sprints, jumps and hurdles.  Prior to his stint at RMU, Collins coached for fourteen years in the Chicago Public Schools system as head coach at Phillips, North Lawndale College Prep and Kenwood Academy. During his coaching career, Collins has produced 21 IHSA state finalists, 14 NCAA Division I regional competitors with three D-I national qualifiers, and 11 USA Track & Field Junior All-Americans. Collins competed as a sprinter at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., from 1986-88 before earning his bachelors degree in 1991. After graduating from IU, he became a member of USA Track & Field and presided over the Chicago Striders, a non-profit track and field youth organization that exposes inner city youth to the fundamentals of track and field. Collins also received his Level II certificate in jumps from USATF. Craig Collins was named head coach of the Chicago State track and field program in December of 2011. Collins is responsible for all aspects of the Cougars mens & womens indoor and outdoor teams. Since taking over the program, Collins' student-athletes have set school records in 38 different events. This total includes records for men's indoor (9), men's outdoor (8), women's indoor (12) and women's outdoor (9). Jaya Emerson graduated in 2014 with school records in the shot put (indoor and outdoor), weight throw, discus, hammer and javelin. She was named Chicago State's 2013-14 Female Senior Athlete of the Year for her decorated career. Collins first full semester as CSU head coach in 2012 was highlighted by the performance of Kelvin White. The St. Petersburg, Fla. native was named the 2012 Great West Conference Men's Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year. White helped CSU post its best ever finish in the event with a fourth-place showing at the GWC Indoor Championships. White shattered personal-best, CSU indoor and GWC indoor records by winning his second consecutive GWC 60-meter hurdles title with a time of 8.04 and also placed third in the long jump at a mark of 22-3.50. Collins came to CSU with coaching experience at the collegiate and high school levels for over a decade and has tutored numerous athletes at both levels to national recognition in various events. Collins served as the assistant coach for Robert Morris University for two seasons, where he coached sprints, jumps and hurdles.  Prior to his stint at RMU, Collins coached for fourteen years in the Chicago Public Schools system as head coach at Phillips, North Lawndale College Prep and Kenwood Academy. During his coaching career, Collins has produced 21 IHSA state finalists, 14 NCAA Division I regional competitors with three D-I national qualifiers, and 11 USA Track & Field Junior All-Americans. Collins competed as a sprinter at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., from 1986-88 before earning his bachelors degree in 1991. After graduating from IU, he became a member of USA Track & Field and presided over the Chicago Striders, a non-profit track and field youth organization that exposes inner city youth to the fundamentals of track and field. Collins also received his Level II certificate in jumps from USATF.