Oct. 20, 2011
Complete Illini Open Notes
MEET PREVIEW
The Illini men's cross country team will host their last meet before the Big Ten Championships when they welcome Bradley and SIU-Edwardsville to the Illini Open on Friday, Oct. 21. The 8K race will start at 4:45 p.m. CT at the UI Arboretum.
COACH KENNEDY ON THE MEET
"This weekend will be a good opportunity to see some new face on our cross country team." Kennedy said. "We will race some of our middle distance crew to add some variety in their training. We will also race our freshman who will be the new face of our distance program a year from now. It also gives us an opportunity to rest the guys who will race next weekend at the Big Ten Championships."
ILLINI SET TO RUN
Two runners will be competing in the Illini Open as freshman Mark Donohue and senior Graham Farnsworth look to set a personal best at the meet on Friday. Nine other Illini will be running unattached, including four track athletes.
LOOK AT THE COMPETITION
The field will be smaller than what the Illini faced last week at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational, with two other schools competing. Bradley who finished 10th overall at the Bradley Classic last week and SIU-Edwardsville are the other teams running the 8K course.
LAST TIME OUT
The Fighting Illini men's cross counry team placed 26th at the Wisconsin adidas Invitaitonal last Friday. The Orange and Blue, who faced their toughest competition of the season, finished ahead of three Big Ten squads and were led by junior Jordan Hebert for the second time in his career. Hebert led the Illini and placed 49th overall with an 8K time of 24:31, which is three seconds behind his previous best. The Elmhurst, Ill., native improved upon his previous performances at the meet after finishing 117th in 2010 and 102nd in 2009. Following Hebert and making his season debut was Jim Riddle, who came in 82nd overall with a time of 24:43.
ILLINI SIXTH IN THE USTFCCCA MIDWEST REGION RANKING
The University of Illinois is ranked sixth in the latest USTFCCCA Midwest Region team rankings. A pair of Big Ten schools and Big 12 squads are in the mix at the top of the region rankings. Oklahoma State is first, followed by Oklahoma, Minnesota, Tulsa and Illinois.
UP NEXT
The Orange and Blue will be home next weekend as they host the Big Ten Championships with the men's 8K race starting at 10:45 am and women's 6K race starting at 11:45 am. For all information regarding the conference championships click here: HERE
