Sept. 1, 2006
Results
Champaign, Ill. -
The Illini opened the 2006 season Friday night on home turf of the UI Arboretum at the Illini Open with members of the team running attached and unattached.
Freshman stand-out Jeremy Stevens (unattached) led all runners with a time of 18:11.80 to place first overall. Also members of the incoming class, Jon Popejoy and Jacob Nachel, placed fifth and sixth overall, respectfully.
"It's a good way to kick off the season," said head coach Wendel McRaven. "I was impressed with our freshman. I think they ran with maturity and followed our race plan pretty well. We wanted to keep the group together. They did a really nice job of doing that."
Finishing the meet with a seventh-place finish overall and as the first Illini-attached finisher was junior Justin Aronson with a time of 18:32.99. Aronson was followed by senior Marciej Sniegorski, with a ninth-place finish (8:43.21). Senior Jon Houseworth returned with his first race after red-shirting last season with a time of 18:44.65, finishing tenth overall.
McRaven was enthusiastic about the performance of Aronson after the junior put in hours of hard work throughout the summer, and is eager to see where this season will take him.
"I was really impressed with Justin. What you've seen today was the result of consistent hard work. He's a guy who continues to prove that if you put in the mileage, the effort, and if you take care of the small things, you are going to see results. The great thing about our sport is that you can see a guy like him step up to that next level."
Other finishes were junior Matt Flaherty in 12th with a time of 18:46.71, followed by freshman Rob Pykosz (16th-18:53.84). Juniors Tim Kelly and Michael Kelley rounded out the top seven runners for the Illini with times of 19:01.68 and 19:03.79, respectfully.
The Illini will continue their season Friday, September 15 after taking two weeks off from competition when they host the Illini Challenge at the UI Arboretum at 5:45 p.m.
Illini Results:
7. Justin Aronson (1) 18:32.99
9. Maciej Sniegorski (2)18:43.21
10. Jon Houseworth (3) 18:44.65
12. Matt Flaherty (4) 18:46.71
16. Rob Pykosz (5) 18:53.84
18. Tim Kelly (6) 19:01.68
19. Michael Kelley (7) 19:03.79
Unattached Illini:
1. Jeremy Stevens (1) 18:11.80
5. Jon Popejoy 18:26.95
6. Jacob Nachel 18:31.70
14. Jared Richardson 18:49.79
28. Brian Brodeur 19:14.28
30. Brian Beaird 19:18.09
32. Kyle Somerfield 19:30.39
