Northwestern University Athletics
2002 Women's Cross Country - Spring Recap
5/15/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country & Track
May 15, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern women's cross country team recently completed their off-season competition. The Wildcats sent individuals to several indoor and outdoor track meets during the winter and spring. Below are the highlights from the different meets.
Feb. 8-9 -- Cannon IV Classic (Butler University)
The weekend at this indoor meet started with Catie LaBracke, Caroline Speirs, Beth Kobeszka and Kyna Forkins competing in the Distance Medley Relay, where they placed sixth in a time of 13:24. Nicole Kuznia led a host of NU runners in the distance runners, getting the ball rolling with a 10:33 in the open 3,000 and then doubling back to run the mile in 5:11. Nora Colligan finished just ahead of Kuznia in the mile, at 5:10, in a different heat.
"These two worked really good together, and it was encouraging to see them finish so closely to each other even though they were in different heats," said head coach Amy Tush. "Nicole did a tough double and competed well with little rest."
Karen Rogers competed in a tough field in the 5,000 (25 women qualified for the NCAA's in her event) and ran a time of 17:43. Rachel Evjen, meanwhile, ran 16:43 in the 5,000 which at the end of the indoor season placed her 34th in the country among collegians.
"Rachel ran an unbelievable race," said Tush. "She ran so conservative, even and smart. I am very impressed with how mature Rachel has become over the year."
April 12 -- Grand Valley State University
At the first outdoor meet of the spring, Kuznia ran just the second steeplechase of her life but came from behind to win in 11:15. LaBracke ran her first-ever steeplechase and clocked a time of 12:55.
Nicole Kalogeropoulos was NU's lone participant in the 5,000 and clocked 20:35. In the 3,000, Evjen scored a victory in 10:00, while Diana Hossfeld was second (10:15) and Colligan was fourth (10:21). Speirs (11:00) and Forkins (11:14) ran their first individual collegiate race.
"Grand Valley was a good meet for us," said Tush. "We got the chance to win a few events and compete from the front."
April 20 -- Indiana State University
In a tuneup meet leading up to the prestigious Penn Relays, several women shined. Kuznia and LaBracke ran in the 3,000 steeplechase, with Kuznia finishing third (11:38) and LaBracke improving her time significantly to finish fourth (12:29). Other highlights were Speirs in the 5,000 (18:47) and Hossfeld in the 1,500 (4:46). Colligan and Rogers also ran in the 1,500, with times of 4:46 and 4:51, respectively, and Kalogeropoulos ran a 20:09 in the 5,000.
April 25 -- Penn Relays (Philadelphia, Pa.)
At perhaps the most prestigious track meet in the world, several NU runners competed. Hossfeld and Colligan ran in the open 3,000 and, according to Tush, were probably the highlight of the meet. Hossfeld qualified for June's Junior National meet with a time of 10:01, while Colligan ran a PR of 10:10.
"Diana is the most patient runner I have ever coached," said Tush. "She almost gave me a heart attack when she was dead last after one lap, but she drove herself and Nora up into the Top 30 by the end of the race."
Kuznia ran in the steeplechase, and despite falling three times still managed to run 11:23. In the 5,000, Rogers used an aggressive close to finish in 18:14 in her heat, while Evjen got caught in a pack in her heat and finished with a time of 16:57.
May 3 -- IUPUI (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Tush considered this NU's best meet of the spring.
Kuznia, LaBracke and Colligan all competed in the steeplechase, with Kuznia hitting at PR in 11:13 and LaBracke hitting a PR in 12:20. Colligan, competing in her first steeplechase, ran 11:21.
The 5,000 was a great race, as Rachel Evjen led most of the way and finished with a PR of 16:47.
"It is difficult to run a fast time when you're by yourself out there," said Tush. "But Rachel is tough as nails and can do just that."
Hossfield qualified for her second event at Junior Nationals by running 17:17 in the 5K. Rogers ran the 5K in 18:21, while Speirs had her best meet of the spring and ran the 5,000 in 18:21.
May 10 -- Illinois Twilight (Champaign, Ill.)
Evjen, Hossfeld and Rogers competed in the 3,000. Evjen took first place again and demolished another PR by clocking 9:52, while Hossfeld and Rogers finished the event with times of 10:12 and 10:36, respectively.
"I felt we had a very productive season," said Tush. "Everyone competed well, set lots of lifetime bests, and we had fun doing it. I am excited to say that Laura Evans and Emily Blakeslee are 100 percent again, as well, and ready to add back into the lineup next fall. We have high goals for 2002, but we have to get healthy and train smart this summer."
