Feb. 3, 2005

Champaign, Ill.- Illinois' women's track team is sending a group of 11 athletes to compete at the Meyo Invitational hosted by the University of Notre Dame. The two-day affair runs Friday and Saturday. The Illini contingent is comprised of middle distance and distance runners and jumpers.

Heading the list are Cassie Hunt, Jaime Turilli and Maggie Carroll in the 3,000m. Turilli set the UI school record of 9:28.34 in the event two weeks ago at the Central Collegiate Championships and will look to hold off Hunt and Carroll as they are each expected to challenge her time.

In the mile, Lindsey Reu and Rachel Hernandez will compete in a highly competitive field and will be aiming to break personal bests set two weeks ago. Hernandez broke the five-minute barrier, running 4:59.86 while Reu narrowly missed, clocking 5:00.16.

Carlene Robinson, the UI record holder in the outdoor 800m will run the 800m along with Natalie Young. Young and Laura Gerke are penciled in as Illinois' 400m participants and will also run the 500m with heptathletes Rachael Gliottoni and Lauren Shimmon. Shimmon will compete in the long jump and the 60m hurdles and Gliottoni will run the short hurdles and compete in the high jump. Freshman Mariesa Greene, who began school at Illinois this semester, is the Illini's other high jumper.

Meet results can be found at www.und.com and Illinois results can be accessed at www.fightingillini.com.