Oct. 1, 2002

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - After a two-week layoff, the Illinois women's cross country team returns to action this Friday, when they travel to South Bend, Ind., to participate in the Notre Dame Invitational.

The Notre Dame Invitational features 40 women's teams running in two separate divisions. Illinois will participate in the 24-team Blue Division, which will run at 4:15 p.m. and have six Big Ten teams competing, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Northwestern, Purdue and Wisconsin. In addition to the Big Ten talent, four nationally ranked teams will be competing including No. 3 Stanford and No. 5 Notre Dame.

"Basically we are going out there to run for time," coach Karen Harvey said. "We aren't necessarily looking to beat anyone in particular, but I do want personal-best times to come out of this race. I want this team to see that they are a year stronger and a year better."

This will be the first meet for the Illini women since the Illinois State Pre-Regional Meet on Sept. 14, when they finished second overall and placed three runners in the top 10 including senior Celi Dietzen who finished eighth in a time of 23:14.94.

"I think we've achieved a lot over the last couple of weeks," Harvey said. "We are stronger, we are in better shape and we are tougher mentally. This team lost focus two weeks ago and that is something we've worked on."

Illinois Participants:
Cecelia Dietzen, Erin Frakes, Amy Guard, Amber Hunt, Leigh Anne Kenyon, Abigail, Legue, Jaime Turilli, Elizabeth Pinzarrone and Tabitha Volling.

Women's Blue Division Participants:
Akron, Ball State, Belmont, Calvin College, Central Michigan, Eastern Illinois, Eastern Michigan , Illinois State, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi State, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Saint Joseph's (Pa.), Stanford, Utah State, Vanderbilt, Washington, Western Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Southern Utah.

###GO ILLINI###