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Defending Big Ten Runner of the Week, junior Jeremy Stevens will look to keep up his early season success.
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Sept. 25, 2008
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Fighting Illini men's cross country team heads to Chicago this Saturday to participate in the 36th annual Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational hosted by Loyola University. The Illini enter the event after winning back-to-back team titles to begin the season.
"We competed well last week," cross country coach Wendel McRaven said. "Seeing progress from week-to-week is exciting and necessary to reach the goals we have for the end of the year."
This year's event will have a big meet atmosphere with 61 teams from around the Midwest competing at Montrose Beach. The Orange and Blue will look to avenge a fifth place finish at the 2005 invitational. A large Illini contingency of fans is expected with Chicago natives dominating Illinois' roster.
"We like to give our athletes the opportunity to run in front of family and friends," McRaven said. "Chicago is also an important recruiting area for us, so it is good to go up there and compete."
Junior Jeremy Stevens, the defending Big Ten Runner of the Week will lead the Illini into action. His runner-up finish a week ago at the Illinois Intercollegiate Championships led all Illini finishers for the second consecutive meet. After a strong beginning to the season, the freshmen class is expected to continue to improve.
The men's 8K race is set for an 11 a.m. start. A full recap and results will be available on fightingillini.com after the meet. The Illini will next take two weeks off before heading to Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute, Ind.
