Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Loyola Invitational
NU Tops 32-Team Field at Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational
9/27/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country & Track
Sept. 27, 2008
Sean Earl Team ResultsSean Earl Individual Results
EVANSTON, Ill. -- In one of the largest team cross country races in the nation, Northwestern captured the team championship at the 5K Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational at Montrose Beach in Chicago on Saturday. Senior Carly Brown placed sixth (18:08) and freshman Sophie Ewald came in eighth (18:17) to lift Northwestern to first place overall out of 32 teams with a score of 76 points.
It was Northwestern's first team victory in a meet since the five-team Forester Invitational in 2006. Missouri, Malone, Alabama, and Loyola (Chicago) rounded out the top five behind NU in the team scoring.
“I'm really proud of our runners today because everyone contributed and it was just a tremendous team effort from top to bottom,” said head coach April Likhite. “This is a great event and to win it is a big step forward for our team this year.”
Northwestern placed four runners in the top 25 out of more than 300 participants. Senior Marcellee Fullwood continued her string of solid early season performances, placing 13th in a time of 18:30. Freshman Rachel Kaminski rounded out the first 25 finishers by posting a time of 18:45.
"Rachel's fantastic start was crucial to getting the rest of our front pack where they needed to be," Likhite said. "I was extremely pleased with our individual races from the gun to the finish."
Freshman Hallie Busta, competing in her first collegiate meet, finished in 18:48 to nab 27th place.
Next up for Northwestern is the adidas Invitational hosted by Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., on Friday, Oct. 3.
