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Sept. 2, 2010
Illini Challenge Complete Notes 
Illini Challenge
Friday, Sept. 3 (5 p.m.) - 4K race
UI Arboretum // Urbana, Ill.
Meet Preview
The Fighting Illini women's cross country team opens up the 2010 season on Friday, Sept. 3, at the University of Illinois Arboretum in Urbana for the Illini Challenge. The women's race is set to start at 5 p.m, with the men's race to follow at 5:30 p.m.
The Orange and Blue are set to race against Butler, Danville Area Community College, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and the Illinois cross country club team in the 4K event. The Illini eye a strong start to the season and hope to build on the tremendous success they have achieved in recent years, which includes five conscutive top-12 finishes at the NCAA Championships.
Coach Rasmussen on the Meet
"Our focus is to get people who haven't had a whole lot of experience to get the rust off. It will be good for them to get a competition in at a familiar site and one where they can go into it knowing what needs to be done to be successful since it is our home course. Anytime we go out there, we are always looking to see how people compete. It really shows us what we need to work on for the upcoming meets. There is actually a lot that goes on even though it is only a 4K race this weekend."
Illini Set to Run
Nine Illini are slated to toe the starting line for the Orange and Blue on Friday, including collegiate debuts for four runners. Freshmen Megumi Hoshi, Rachel Irion and Katie Porada along with redshirt freshman Kendra Kennedy will race in an Illinois uniform for the first time in their careers. Four sophomores, Meagan Hynes, Kelsey Seiler, Michelle Stratton, Mary Sullivan, and junior Stacy Hague will also open up the season for the Illini.
A Look at the Competition
SIU-Edwardsville returns only two runners, and the young squad has six freshmen. The Butler Bulldogs return their top three runners, including Horizon League Female Cross Country Athlete of the Year Katie Clark, from last year's Horizon League Championship team. It was Butler's 11th Horizon League title in 13 years. The Illini Club Team had two runners in the top-20 a year ago, while Danville Area Community College will send five freshman to the meet.
Last Year at the Challenge
Illinois took home a second-place finish at the Illini Challenge in 2009, as Ashley Thompson led the pack for the Illini, finishing third overall with a personal-best 4K time of 14:39.57. Freshman Courtney Yaeger had a solid start to her collegiate career, coming in second for the Orange and Blue and 10th overall with a time of 15:12.58. Junior Maggie Mulchrone followed, placing 12th with a personal-best 4K time of 15:29.63. The Illini Challenge provided Illinois with a chance for the majority of the freshman to compete and earn valuable race experience. Of the Illini's 12 freshmen, six of them ran in the race and all finished in the top 20.
Illinois Results
3. Ashley Thompson 14:39.57
10. Courtney Yaeger 15:12.58
12. Maggie Mulchrone 15:29.63
13. Meghan Murphy 15:37.57
15. Kelsey Seiler 15:47.40
17. Elizabeth Schreiber 15:49.69
19. Meagan Hynes 15:55.55
20. Sarah Rosenwinkel 16:17.88
Team Results
1. Illinois State 24
2. Illinois 49
3. SIU-Edwardsville 71
4. Robert Morris 110
Up Next
The Illini head to Terre Haute, Ind., for the Sycamore Pride Invitational on Friday, Sept. 10, which will be run on the same course as the NCAA Championships.
