Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Illinois State Invitational
Wildcats Win Illinois State Invitational
9/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country & Track
Sept. 14, 2002
NORMAL, Ill. - Before the season started, Northwestern cross country coach Amy Tush talked about the depth of her team and thought it would go a long way toward the Wildcats' success.
On Saturday, in NU's first meet of 2002, that depth was in evidence.
Northwestern bested six other teams at the Illinois State Farm Course to take first place in the Illinois State Invitational. The victory came despite the absence of senior Rachel Evjen (Eau Claire, Wis.), NU's top runner each of the last two years.
It was important event for the Wildcats, as the ISU Farm Course is the same one that will host the NCAA Midwest Regional in November.
With Evjen sidelined by a minor injury, it was up to classmate Nicole Kuznia (Olivia, Minn./BOLD) to pick up the slack. She took the individual title -- the first of her collegiate career -- by covering the 6-kilometer course in 22:38.46. That allowed her to beat Loyola's Kristyne McGuinn by a little less than three seconds.
Illinois State's Kelli Schulte and Diana Ainsley took third and fourth, respectively, but Northwestern captured fifth through seventh to put distance between itself and the rest of the field. Diana Hossfeld (Newport Beach, Calif./Corona Del Mar) was fifth in 23:03.34, Laura Evans (Christiansburg, Va./Christiansburg) -- who missed last year to injury - was sixth in 23:06.61, and Karen Rogers (St. Louis, Mo./Kirkwood) was seventh in 23:12.67.
Emily Blakeslee (Rockford, Mich./Rockford), who like Evans missed the 2001 season with injuries, was NU's fifth runner in 23:44.24, good for 16th overall.
Northwestern is back in action next Saturday, taking part in the Midwest Collegiates in Kenosha, Wis.
MEET SUMMARY
Team Results
1. Northwestern, 35 points
2. Illinois, 52
3. Illinois State, 54
4. Loyola (Ill.), 83
5. Western Illinois, 153
6. Illinois Wesleyan, 164
7. St. Ambrose, 220
Top 10 Individuals/NU Scorers
1. Nicole Kuznia, NU (22:38.46)
2. Kristyne McGuinn, Loyola (22:41.03)
3. Kelli Schulte, ISU (22:42.82)
4. Diana Ainsley, ISU (22:52.89)
5. Diana Hossfeld, NU (23:03.34)
6. Laura Evans, NU (23:06.61)
7. Karen Rogers, NU (23:12.67
8. Celi Dietzen, Illinois (23:14.94
9. Amy Guard, Illinois (23:18.23)
10. Marcy Bice, Illinois (23:27.13)
16. Emily Blakeslee, NU (23:44.24)
Other NU Runners
18. Kyna Forkins, 23:52.51
23. Nora Colligan, 24:11.21
27. Kalysta Harmon, 24:29.57
35. Caroline Speirs, 24:59.64
37. Catie LaBracke, 25:03.27
43. Lindsay McAlister, 25:29.52
46. Nicole Kalogeropoulos, 25:38.29
58. Jessica Anderson, 26:30. 80
61. Ashley Roberts, 27:10.41
62. Beth Kobeszka, 27:16.18
76. Alessandra Vavas, 29:48.32
