Sept. 19, 2003

Illinois' women's cross country team ran at the 6,000 meter Spartan Open Friday afternoon in East Lansing, Mich. The Illini were led by freshmen Cassie Hunt and Stephanie Simms, who finished 10th and 11th respectively. It was Hunt's second top-10 finish in as many college races. Junior Jaime Turilli finished 13th, followed by freshman Pam Wolf in 16th and junior Casie Simpson in 24th. The Illini were without freshman Sammie Polock who was kept out of the race to rest an ailing hip.

"The meet went really well," Coach Karen Harvey said. "Cassie ran great again. She's not running like a freshman at all. We had a pack of three runners together and when she sensed they were slowing down, she broke away."

In Hunt, Simms and Wolf, the Fighting Illini boasted the top-three scoring freshman. The next highest freshman was a Northwestern runner who finished 23rd.

"Our top four had a really good day," Harvey said. "Three of them are freshmen who've never run a 6K before. It's almost a full mile difference for them, but they stepped up nicely and showed that they're very talented. If the meet had been scored, we would have done very well and our performance today gives us a great deal to be excited about, but we need Casie and Lisa to step it up because having only four (good scorer's) won't do us any good, we need that fifth."

Today's Illinois Results:
6,000 meter course		

1. Cassie Hunt (10)		21:55.4
2. Stephanie Simms (11)	22:02.0
3. Jaime Turilli (13)		22:06.3
4. Pam Wolf (16)		22:15.0
5. Casie Simpson (24)		22:36.5
6. Lisa Philips (36)		23:06.5
7. Tabitha Volling (48)	23:27.6
8. Jenni Brdecka (64)		24:01.3