Sept. 3, 2009

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Fighting Illini women's cross country team opens up the 2009 season on Friday, Sept. 4, 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: Danville Area Community College, Illinois State, Robert Morris, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and the Illinois cross country club team in the 4K event. The Illini look to start off the season strong and build on the tremendous success they have achieved in recent years.

"Every year for us, the opening meet gives us a good idea of what we need to do so we can make sure we are where we want to be at the end of the season," cross country coach Jeremy Rasmussen said. "This race gives us the opportunity to see what shape people really are in. We get the opportunity after this to fine tune things and make sure that by the end of the year we are running our best."

The Illini will have 13 runners competing, including the collegiate debuts of 8 freshmen. Most of the team's top returnees will not be competing, and will instead wait until at least the next meet to start off the season.

Next weekend, the Illini squad will split up and compete at the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational in University Park, Pa., on Friday, Sept. 11 at 4:30 p.m. CT as well as the Bradley Open in Peoria on the same day at 5:30 p.m. CT