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Women's Cross Country, Track & Field
Illinois Places First at Illini Open
Oct. 23, 2009
URBANA, Ill. - The No. 13-ranked Illinois women's cross country team dominated the Illini Open today, taking both the team and individual titles at the UI Arboretum. Sophomore Danelle Woods led the Illini to a first-place showing with a 5K time of 18:49. The Orange and Blue had five runners in the top five and finished with 15 points. "Today was a great step in the right direction for everyone that ran," women's cross country coach Jeremy Rasmussen said. "Danelle coming out, being able to get in a good rhythm and look smooth throughout the entire race is going to be important for us at Big Tens and even Regionals and Nationals. For our team to be able to go one through five and have eight in the top ten is obviously awesome." Following right behind Woods was sophomore Amber Stack who placed second with a time of 18:49. Also scoring for the Illini were freshmen Madeline Aufmann (3rd, 18:50) and Kelsey Seiler (4th, 18:54), as well as senior Theresa Brokaw (5th,18:59). Next week, the Illini will travel to Happy Valley, Pa., for the Big Ten Championships. The Illini will face some of their toughest competition of the year as four other Big Ten teams are currently nationally ranked. Illinois finished fourth last year at the championships, but Coach Rasmussen feels this year the team has what it takes to earn the top spot at the meet. "If we are able to have the same mind-frame and intensity that we had today, then we will be able to do really well," Rasmussen said. "The team's performance today was inspiring for those girls who will be on the Big Ten team. From here on out, we want to win the next two meets. If we can do three in a row and get to Nationals with a huge head of steam, then you never know what will happen."
The Big Ten Championships will be held on November 1 at 10:45 a.m. CT.
Illinois Results Unattached Illini Team Results:
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