Friday, September 6
Madison, Wis.
4 p.m. CT
Northwestern
at
Badger Classic
Photo by: Peyton Martin/Northwestern Athletics
‘Cats Split Squad To Begin 2024 Cross Country Campaign On Friday
9/5/2024 2:00:00 PM | Women's Cross Country & Track
Northwestern to compete at Huskie Opener, Badger Classic
EVANSTON, Ill. (September 5, 2024) – Northwestern cross country officially raises the curtain on its 2024 season this Friday as it competes at a pair of meets. The 'Cats are slated to be in action at both the Huskie Opener in DeKalb, Ill. and the Badger Classic in Madison, Wis.
Action at the Huskie Opener, hosted by Northern Illinois University at the North 40 Championships Cross Country Course, is get underway at 5:30 p.m. with the women's 5k race. The Badger Classic features a 6k race beginning at 4 p.m. from the Zimmer Championship Course. Links to live results for both meets can be accessed above.
Set to begin her sixth-year with the 'Cats, head coach Jill Miller's team begins the new season ranked second in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Midwest Region Preseason Rankings. Northwestern is also eight teams also receiving votes in the national preseason poll.
Miller returns a wealth of experience, a group led by the pairing of Ava Earl and Katherine Hessler.
Earl enjoyed another outstanding season in 2023, earning USTFCCCA All-Midwest Region accolades following an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Midwest Regional. The Girdwood, Alaska native went on to make a second consecutive appearance at the NCAA Championships, where she posted the second-best individual placement by a Wildcat in program history, finishing 64th overall.
Out of Grand Rapids, Mich., Hessler took home First Team All-Big Ten Conference honors following an impressive ninth-place showing at the Big Ten Conference Championships. She carried that momentum into the NCAA Midwest Regional, surging to a 13th-place finish to join Earl as a USTFCCCA All-Midwest Region pick.
In addition to incoming first-years Cary Drake, Katherine Klimek, and Bentley Thomas, Miller also added a pair of graduate transfers in the offseason, bringing in the decorated pairing of Holly Smith and Chloe Wellings. Smith arrives at Northwestern after capping off her career at Iona University by earning USTFCCCA All-Northeast Region distinction, while Wellings joins the Wildcats from Radford University, where she was a three-time All-Big South Conference selection.
Northwestern is back in action on Friday, September 13 when it heads south to Champaign, Ill. for the Big Ten Conference Preview.
Action at the Huskie Opener, hosted by Northern Illinois University at the North 40 Championships Cross Country Course, is get underway at 5:30 p.m. with the women's 5k race. The Badger Classic features a 6k race beginning at 4 p.m. from the Zimmer Championship Course. Links to live results for both meets can be accessed above.
Set to begin her sixth-year with the 'Cats, head coach Jill Miller's team begins the new season ranked second in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Midwest Region Preseason Rankings. Northwestern is also eight teams also receiving votes in the national preseason poll.
Miller returns a wealth of experience, a group led by the pairing of Ava Earl and Katherine Hessler.
Earl enjoyed another outstanding season in 2023, earning USTFCCCA All-Midwest Region accolades following an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Midwest Regional. The Girdwood, Alaska native went on to make a second consecutive appearance at the NCAA Championships, where she posted the second-best individual placement by a Wildcat in program history, finishing 64th overall.
Out of Grand Rapids, Mich., Hessler took home First Team All-Big Ten Conference honors following an impressive ninth-place showing at the Big Ten Conference Championships. She carried that momentum into the NCAA Midwest Regional, surging to a 13th-place finish to join Earl as a USTFCCCA All-Midwest Region pick.
In addition to incoming first-years Cary Drake, Katherine Klimek, and Bentley Thomas, Miller also added a pair of graduate transfers in the offseason, bringing in the decorated pairing of Holly Smith and Chloe Wellings. Smith arrives at Northwestern after capping off her career at Iona University by earning USTFCCCA All-Northeast Region distinction, while Wellings joins the Wildcats from Radford University, where she was a three-time All-Big South Conference selection.
Northwestern is back in action on Friday, September 13 when it heads south to Champaign, Ill. for the Big Ten Conference Preview.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
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