Sept. 13, 2013
Results
West Lafayette, Ind. -- The Illinois men's cross country team finished fourth at the Boilermaker Invitational on Friday. The 8K race was held at the Boilermaker Cross Country Course, the site of the 2013 Big Ten Championships. Newcomer Brendan McDonnell led the Illini, finishing ninth overall with a time of 25:12.0 in his varsity debut.
"I'm pleased," said head coach Jake Stewart. "Our objectives were met. We wanted to move our way through the race and pick off as many guys as we could over the last two loops, and we did that. The guys did a very good job of moving their way through the race. Our group of five was in the 30's at one mile, and by 2.5 miles they were into the 20's. We just started out a little further back than we needed to, but that comes with experience."
Redshirt sophomores Sam Telfer (25:23.5) and Paul Zeman (25:24.4) crossed the finish line next for the Orange and Blue, placing 13th and 14th, respectively. Redshirt freshman Will Brewster finished fourth for the Illini and 16th overall, clocking a time of 25:28.7, while fellow redshirt freshman Luke Carroll (25:52.8)placed 25th.
Sophomore Jereme Atchison (26:11.11) and freshman Ryan Burgoon (26:31.9) scored points for the Orange and Blue, finishing 6th and 7th for the squad, respectively. Freshman Jon Vaccaro crossed the finish line with a time of 27:09.1 in his second collegiate meet.
Three Illini freshman ran unattached in the meet, with Garrett Lee (26:07.7) placing 28th overall and Alex Gold (26:11.7) and Joe Cowlin (26:14.0) finishing closely behind.
"In three weeks time when we put our entire team together we're going to have a much better idea of where we're at as a team, rather than having one group open up two weeks ago and the other group race today," said Stewart. "We still have to put our entire team together. I'm very confident with where we're at, now we just need to go back to work and put all the pieces together at Notre Dame."
Ohio State finished first with 28 points, while Purdue's McClintock won the individual title with a time of 24:41.8.
The Illini have three weekends off before traveling to South Bend, Ind. for the Notre Dame Invitational on Oct. 4.
ILLINOIS RESULTS
9. Brendan McDonnell, 25:12.0
13. Sam Telfer, 25:23.5
14. Paul Zeman 25:24.4
16. Will Brewster, 25:28.7
25. Luke Carroll, 25:52.8
28. Garrett Lee (unattached), 26:07.7
30. Jereme Atchison, 26:11.1
31. Alex Gold (unattached), 26:11.7
32. Joe Cowlin (unattached), 26:14.0
36. Ryan Burgoon, 26:31.9
46. Jon Vaccaro, 27:09.1
TEAM RESULTS
1. Ohio State 28
2. Purdue 49
3. Michigan 69
4. ILLINOIS 76
