FightingIllini.com
The Official Home of University of Illinois Athletics
- Men's Sports
- MEN'S SPORTS
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cheerleading
- Football
- Golf
- WOMEN'S SPORTS
- Basketball
- Cheerleading
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Soccer
Illini Runners Take Second at Illini Challenge
  |
|
Senior Stacy Hague finished third overall to lead the Illini to a second-place finish.
|
Sept. 3, 2010
URBANA, Ill. - The Fighting Illini women's cross country team started the season with a second-place finish at the Illini Challenge. Junior Stacy Hague (15:00) finished third overall for the Illini, who boasted five of the top 12 finishers.
"This is a springboard for the rest of the season," cross country coach Jeremy Rasmussen said. "I look forward to everyone continuing to get better. We had quite a few PRs from the people who have run the course before, so we've gotten better from year to year. We just need to continue getting better day to day."
Three Illini runners improved their 4K personal bests by double-digit margins. Sophomore Kelsey Seiler (15:26) bettered her Illini Challenge time by 21 seconds from a year ago and took sixth overall, while sophomore Meagan Hynes (15:44) beat her time by 11 seconds and placed 11th. Hague also trimmed 13 seconds off her previous personal-best time from 2007.
"Looking at that time (Hague's 4k personal-best 15:00) compared to years past tells me she's in pretty good shape," Rasmussen said of Hague. "It tells me she's going to improve and do good things for us this year."
It was the collegiate debut for five Illini, including three true freshmen. Redshirt freshman Michelle Stratton (15:37) led the newcomers with an eighth-place finish, while Katie Porada (15:51) paced the true freshmen with her 12th-place finish. Redshirt freshman Kendra Kennedy came in 14th with a time of 16:20 followed by back-to-back finishes from freshmen Megumi Hoshi (16:38) in 19th-place and Rachel Irion (16:39) in 20th. Sophomore Mary Sullivan posted a time of 17:05 and placed 24th.
Butler sophomore Kirsty Legg earned the meet victory, finishing 31 seconds faster than the second-place finisher, Butler senior Marbeth Shiell. Legg's time was the fastest Illini Challenge time since the race was shortened to 4k in 2007.
The Illini travel to Terre Haute, Ind., next Friday for the Sycamore Pride Invitational. The meet will be at the site of the NCAA Championships, and the 5k race will begin at 2:30 p.m. CT.
Illinois Results
3. Stacy Hague 15:00
6. Kelsey Seiler 15:26
8. Michelle Stratton 15:37
11. Meagan Hynes 15:44
12. Katie Porada 15:51
14. Kendra Kennedy 16:20
19. Megumi Hoshi 16:38
20. Rachel Irion 16:39
24. Mary Sullivan 17:05
Team Results
1. Butler 19
2. Illinois 40
3. SIUE 84
4. Illinois XC Club 93
5. Danville Area CC 137
