Northwestern University Athletics
NU Runners Tops Among Cross Country-Only Programs in 2009
1/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country & Track
Jan. 5, 2010
2010 Northwestern Spring Track Schedule
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern head coach April Likhite has announced a challenging season of spring track meets beginning Friday, March 5, at either the Carthage Last Chance meet or the Alex Wilson Invitational. NU is coming off a season in which it was the lone cross country-only program in the country to place in the top 15 of its NCAA Regional Championships meet.
For the season, Northwestern's average 5K time (18:56) was 40 seconds faster than that of any other cross country-only program nationally while its 6K average (22:45) was more than a full minute better than the second-best 6K team average. Out of 344 Division I women's cross country teams, there are 21 cross country-only programs in the country--all others sponsor indoor and/or outdoor track and field teams.
Northwestern is the only such program in the Big Ten.
"It's rewarding to know that we are one of the most, if not the most, competitive DI women's cross country-only programs in the country," Likhite said. "Our athletes understand the many benefits of being part of a cross country-only program as well as the challenges that go along with that. We've proven in the past that we can be competitive in the Big Ten and be a team on the starting line at the NCAA Championships and it's important that we return to that level once again."
With that in mind, Likhite and her staff have put together a spring track season that will keep NU's talented young roster in top shape throughout the cross country offseason. The 'Cats will line up against top runners from the Big Ten, Big East and other top conferences at meets including Purdue's Mike Poehlein Invite, the Chicagoland Championships as well as the prestigious Penn Relays.
A complete list of NU's spring track appearances is available in PDF format at the top of the page.
