Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Join Nation's Best at Wisconsin Adidas Invite
10/17/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country & Track
Oct. 17, 2013
Wisconsin Adidas Invite -- Meet Information
EVANSTON -- Northwestern, ranked No. 6 in the most recent USTFCCCA Midwest Regional poll, is set for one of its premier meets of the regular season, the fifth annual Wisconsin Adidas Invitational Saturday in Madison. The top-flight 6K race, which brings together 37 different women's teams at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course, begins at noon CT.
This elite competition boasts 10 teams ranked in the top 20 nationally and nearly two-thirds of the entire USTFCCCA top 30 poll (18), including No. 1 Providence, No. 3 Arizona and No. 4 Washington. Two of the perennial powers in Northwestern's Midwest Region, Minnesota and Iowa State also are slated to compete.
Northwestern's lineup features nine runners for the varsity meet. They are:
• Elena Barham
• Camille Blackman
• Julia Buford
• Libby Kocha
• Elena Miller
• Megan O'Brien
• Andi Ostenso
• Jena Pianin
• Rachel Weathered
The group consists of seven underclassmen and three freshman, with Buford and Kocha ranking as the lone seniors for Northwestern. Barham, the reigning Big Ten Runner of the Week, and Kocha also competed in this meet for the Wildcats a year ago, when then-senior Audrey Huth used ideal conditions and a fast course to set a Northwestern 6K school record of 20:19 and place 32nd overall.
For most Wildcats, the meet marks the first chance to test themselves at the 6K championship distance since the Dartmouth Invitational on Sept. 14. Freshman Andrea Ostenso impressed in her first career 6K race that day with a time of 21:38.02, while Camille Blackman (21:56.44) and Julia Buford (21:57.28) also will be looking to drop time off their earlier-season 6K times.
For the first time, cross country fans will be able to watch the Wisconsin Adidas Invitational live online via Flotrack (subscription required). For immediate live results following the meet visit UWBadgers.com.
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