Sept. 15, 2011
Complete Orange and Blue Preview
Coach Kennedy Interview
MEET PREVIEW
The Fighting Illini will be back in action this Friday, Sept. 16 to host the Orange and Blue Preview at the UI Arboretum in Urbana. The 8K race will begin at 5:15 p.m. CT.
The Orange and Blue will be facing two conference opponents in Michigan and Wisconsin. The Preview will be the first chance for competitors to compete on the Big Ten Championship course, used later next month.
COACH KENNEDY ON THE MEET
"I want to put out a really good effort this weekend,especially against the high level of competition we'll experience Friday" Kennedy said. "We want to see how we compare to other teams in the conference. This is an opportunity for a lot of the guys to open up their cross country season. We'll compete most of the upperclassmen on Friday and see how they finish."
ILLINI SET TO RUN
Seven runners will compete for the Orange and Blue, as five make their season debut on Friday. Jim Riddle will begin his senior season as the top returner after leading the Illini at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships and capturing All-Region honors. Seniors Dan Kremske and Colin Mickow are set to race as the duo led the team in nearly every meet last season, finishing in the top two for the Illini a combined 10 times.
LOOK AT THE COMPETITION
The Illini will face tough competition this weekend as twelve-time defending Big Ten champion Wisconsin leads the competing field ranked No. 2, while Michigan sends seven runners to the race after four of the top five finishers were of Maize and Blue in their season opener two weeks ago. The Wolverines are receiving national votes.
ILLINI FOURTH IN THE USTFCCCA MIDWEST REGION RANKING
The University of Illinois is ranked fourth 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, Illinois and Tulsa.
LAST TIME OUT
Two weeks ago, the Fighting Illini opened the season with its seventh consecutive title at the Illini Challenge at the UI Arboretum. The Orange and Blue scored 21 points and was led by Chris DeSilva who took the individual crown with a 6K time of 18:50. Jordan Hebert (18:56), Tom Achtien (18:57) and Nathan Troester (19:08) finished in third, fourth and sixth, respectively. Freshman Mark Donohue rounded out the Illini with a 12th-place finish and a time of 19:32. Four of the top six finishers were in Orange and Blue.
