Northwestern University Athletics
'Cats Continue Upward Climb at Friday's Illini Open
10/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country & Track
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern Cross Country will line up one final time before heading to next week's Big Ten Championships, heading to the University of Illinois Friday for the 2014 Illini Open. Thirteen Wildcats are expected to represent Northwestern in the 5K meet, with several still jockeying for a place in the lineup at the upcoming Big Ten Conference meet.
Friday's event is slated for a 4 p.m. start time at the U of I Arboretum in Urbana. In addition to Illinois and Northwestern, the meet features squads from Bradley, Butler, Eastern Illinois, Illinois State, Loyola (Chicago) and Purdue, with a total of 84 athletes in the field.
Among Wildcats who both competed at the Illini Open last year and are scheduled to do so on Friday, Renee Wellman is NU's top returning competitor after placing fourth among 'Cats in this race a year ago. Below is the complete list of Northwestern entrants on Friday:
Mallory Abel
Haley Albers
Victoria Bianco
Sara Coffey
Elizabeth Fierro
Erica Grubbs
Kinsey Harmon
Allison Jacobsen
Megan O'Brien
Hannah Rose
Ellen Schmitz
Rachel Weathered
Renee Wellman
A week ago, Northwestern joined the rest of the collegiate cross country world at the Pre-Nationals Invite in Terre Haute, where sophomore Jena Pianin impressed with her 21:21 6K time and 34th-place finish in the individual standings. Pianin will be one of seven NU runners aiming to shine when the 14-team Big Ten Conference convenes in Iowa City on Nov. 2.
Complete results of the Illini Open will be available on NUsports.com at the meet's conclusion.
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