Source: FightingIllini.com
Posted: Saturday, October 03, 2009 6:11:00 PM EST
Published: Saturday, October 03, 2009 6:12:40 PM EST
Posted: Saturday, October 03, 2009 6:11:00 PM EST
Published: Saturday, October 03, 2009 6:12:40 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill.-- The No. 10-ranked Illinois women's cross country team finished third at the Wisconsin Inter-Regional on Saturday, with a team score of 95 points. The loaded field included six ranked squads amoung the 12 teams competing. Finishing first for the Orange and Blue and second overall was senior standout Angela Bizzarri, who ran the 5K race with a time of 17:04.
"We ran well today and had a lot of personal bests out there," women's cross country coach Jeremy Rasmussen said. "The course was a lot of a lot tougher than I originally thought, so to have a lot of the girls get personal bests is definitely positive and encouraging. I think this race helps our confidence going into Pre-Nationals, because we know we are able to go out there and run well. It also helps us to have a big race under our belt. Going into Pre-Nationals, we are definitely excited. We still have to get a few girls back and put a few more pieces of the puzzle together. We are good right now, but we have the opportunity to be really good."
The race also marked the season debut of sophomore Kristin Sutherland. Sutherland ran a personal-best 5K time of 17:22 and also placed second for the Illini and sixth overall. Following Sutherland was senior Elizabeth Boyle (11), junior Chantelle Groenewoud (24), and junior Ashley Thompson (52). Both Boyle and Thompson set personal-best 5K times at the meet.
"Kristin went out and ran really well. She got to the front of the pack right away and never backed off," Rasmussen said. "She is continuing to work on some things and develop her strength, but she had a great race today. For Angela to come out in the beginning stages of her training and run the way she did shows a lot about the kind of contributor she is to the team."
No. 29-ranked Duke placed first overall with a combined team score of 78 points. Junior Cecily Lemmon of Brigham Young was the individual champion of the event, running the race with a time of 17:01, just three seconds better than Bizzarri.
The Illini have a weekend off before splitting up and competing at the Bradley Classic in Peoria, Ill., on Friday, Oct. 16 at 4:15 p.m. CT and the Pre-Nationals Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind., on Saturday, Oct. 17. at 11:00 a.m. CT.
ILLINI WOMEN CLAIM SIXTH PLACE
MADISON, Wis. – The Illinois men's cross country team placed sixth this Saturday at the Wisconsin Inter-Regional. Finishing with a team total of 192 points, five Illini finished the 8K with personal bests that will help propel the team into their regular season of competition.
The field of 13 consisted of four nationally ranked squads, including no. 4 Wisconsin, no. 10 Georgetown and no. 17 Arkansas. The Orange and Blue beat out no. 23 Michigan by 42 points.
"We ran a solid race," cross country coach Wendel McRaven said. "We could have done a better job of running together and finding each other on the course, but these are all things that we have time to work on in the next couple of weeks."
Colin Mickow finished first for the Orange and Blue with a personal best 8K time of 24:39. He was followed by fellow sophomores Jim Riddle (24:55), Nathan Troester (24:57), Dan Kremske (25:07) and Chris DeSilva (25:07) who also ran personal best 8Ks.
"I have no doubts that we have the strength," Coach McRaven said. "These races go out really fast and we need to do a better job of getting engaged a little bit earlier and feel more comfortable in such a competitive field. We took some positive steps today and we are headed in the right direction."
Placing first overall was Andrew Bumbalough, a senior from Georgetown, with a time of 23:54. Syracuse took the team title with a total of 41 points and three finishers in the top-10.
Illinois will have next weekend off before they split up and head to the Bradley Classic on Oct. 16 and the Pre-Nationals meet on Oct. 17.
"We ran well today and had a lot of personal bests out there," women's cross country coach Jeremy Rasmussen said. "The course was a lot of a lot tougher than I originally thought, so to have a lot of the girls get personal bests is definitely positive and encouraging. I think this race helps our confidence going into Pre-Nationals, because we know we are able to go out there and run well. It also helps us to have a big race under our belt. Going into Pre-Nationals, we are definitely excited. We still have to get a few girls back and put a few more pieces of the puzzle together. We are good right now, but we have the opportunity to be really good."
The race also marked the season debut of sophomore Kristin Sutherland. Sutherland ran a personal-best 5K time of 17:22 and also placed second for the Illini and sixth overall. Following Sutherland was senior Elizabeth Boyle (11), junior Chantelle Groenewoud (24), and junior Ashley Thompson (52). Both Boyle and Thompson set personal-best 5K times at the meet.
"Kristin went out and ran really well. She got to the front of the pack right away and never backed off," Rasmussen said. "She is continuing to work on some things and develop her strength, but she had a great race today. For Angela to come out in the beginning stages of her training and run the way she did shows a lot about the kind of contributor she is to the team."
No. 29-ranked Duke placed first overall with a combined team score of 78 points. Junior Cecily Lemmon of Brigham Young was the individual champion of the event, running the race with a time of 17:01, just three seconds better than Bizzarri.
The Illini have a weekend off before splitting up and competing at the Bradley Classic in Peoria, Ill., on Friday, Oct. 16 at 4:15 p.m. CT and the Pre-Nationals Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind., on Saturday, Oct. 17. at 11:00 a.m. CT.
ILLINI WOMEN CLAIM SIXTH PLACE
MADISON, Wis. – The Illinois men's cross country team placed sixth this Saturday at the Wisconsin Inter-Regional. Finishing with a team total of 192 points, five Illini finished the 8K with personal bests that will help propel the team into their regular season of competition.
The field of 13 consisted of four nationally ranked squads, including no. 4 Wisconsin, no. 10 Georgetown and no. 17 Arkansas. The Orange and Blue beat out no. 23 Michigan by 42 points.
"We ran a solid race," cross country coach Wendel McRaven said. "We could have done a better job of running together and finding each other on the course, but these are all things that we have time to work on in the next couple of weeks."
Colin Mickow finished first for the Orange and Blue with a personal best 8K time of 24:39. He was followed by fellow sophomores Jim Riddle (24:55), Nathan Troester (24:57), Dan Kremske (25:07) and Chris DeSilva (25:07) who also ran personal best 8Ks.
"I have no doubts that we have the strength," Coach McRaven said. "These races go out really fast and we need to do a better job of getting engaged a little bit earlier and feel more comfortable in such a competitive field. We took some positive steps today and we are headed in the right direction."
Placing first overall was Andrew Bumbalough, a senior from Georgetown, with a time of 23:54. Syracuse took the team title with a total of 41 points and three finishers in the top-10.
Illinois will have next weekend off before they split up and head to the Bradley Classic on Oct. 16 and the Pre-Nationals meet on Oct. 17.
