Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Pre-National Invitational
'Cats Run Wild at Pre-National Meet
10/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country & Track
Oct. 19, 2002
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Northwestern women's cross country team finished 13th of 37 teams in the White Race at the ASICS/Pacesetter Pre-National Meet, which was hosted by Indiana State Saturday.
The 6-kilometer women's White Race was run on the course that will serve as host to the NCAA Cross Country Championships in late November.
No. 2 Stanford took the White Race team title, scoring 57 points to easily outdistance second-place Wake Forest (165). The only Big Ten team to finish ahead of the Wildcats in the White Race was No. 3 Michigan State, with 367 points. Penn State, ranked 22nd nationally, and No. 29 Dartmouth were among the teams to finish behind the Wildcats.
"I was really happy with how we ran today," said head coach Amy Tush. "I told the women earlier this week that the team they had to beat was themselves -- I think the only thing holding us back has been ourselves. They responded today."
Did they ever. This highly experienced group has been burdened with expectations the last two years, and carried them heavily. Last year, injuries to Laura Evans (Christiansburg, Va./Christiansburg) and Emily Blakeslee (Rockford, Mich./Rockford) contributed to some disappointing results. They are back and healthy now, though, renewing hopes that the Wildcats can find their way to the NCAA Championships as a team for the first time since the program moved back to varsity status in 1998.
Saturday's race went a long way toward justifying such optimism.
"We're starting to bunch up in the middle, which is what we need," said Tush. "That is the key to success in this sport -- not having one great runner only, but having several solid performers."
Northwestern has a great runner, of course, and she proved it again Saturday. Senior Rachel Evjen (Eau Claire, Wis./North) placed 32nd overall in a time of 21:16.5, just four seconds shy of her school record for that distance.
Northwestern's nice finish was aided greatly by Runners No. 2 through 4. Senior Nicole Kuznia (Olivia, Minn./BOLD) pulled along classmate and Evans and sophomore Diana Hossfeld (Newport Beach, Calif./Corona Del Mar). Kuznia was 86th overall in 21:56.5 (a personal best for this distance), while Evans (88th in 21:57.1) and Hossfeld (89th in 21:57.4) were right on her heels.
Blakeslee closed out NU's scorers, taking 119th overall in 22:11.5 as she scored for the first time in her last three races.
The individual champion was Florida State's Vicky Gill, who clocked 19:54.8 to defeat second-place Alicia Craig of Stanford by eight seconds.
Northwestern seems to be picking up steam, and just in time. The next time this group races will be Sunday, Nov. 3, at the Big Ten Championships in West Lafayette, Ind.
NU Runners at the Pre-National Meet WHITE RACE
32. Rachel Evjen, 21:16.5
86. Nicole Kuznia, 21:56.5
88. Laura Evans, 21:57.1
89. Diana Hossfeld, 21:57.4
119. Emily Blakeslee, 22:11.5
180. Karen Rogers, 22:52.7
192. Kyna Forkins, 23:02.6
For complete team results from the Women's White Race, Click here.
For complete individual results from the Women's White Race, Click here
