MEET PREVIEW
A week after winning the Bradley Classic, the Fighting Illini women's cross country team will look to carry that momentum into the Illini Open on Friday, Oct. 24 at the University of Illinois Arboretum. This is the squad's final tune-up before championship season, which begins with the Big Ten Championships on Nov. 2.

COACH JONES ON THE MEET
"This is a very important meet for us and I am very excited about it," said head coach Scott Jones. "It's homecoming weekend, the weather looks like it is going to be perfect and we get to run on our home course. I think our fitness is good and this will set us up well for the Big Ten meet. I think doing something a little bit shorter and a little bit faster will help make us better. Additionally, we have some people that haven't raced as much and I think they need another race under their belts. Again, this race is important and will serve multiple functions for us."

ILLINI SET TO RUN
The Illini will have 11 runners represent the University of Illinois at the meet on Friday. Courtney Ackerman, Valerie Bobart, Denise Branch, Nicole Choquette, Colette Falsey, Samantha Lapp, Megan Lemersal, Britten Petrey, Lindsey Rakosnik, Chloe Schmidt and Hanna Winter are ready to compete.

A LOOK AT THE COMPETITION
The Orange and Blue will be competing in an eight-team field. Bradley, Butler, Eastern Illinois, Illinois State, Loyola, Northwestern and Purdue will invade the UI Arboretum. Speed Factory Athletics will have a runner competing, as well as six unattached participants.

LAST TIME OUT
After nearly three weeks away from competition, the Illinois women's cross country team showed they put the extra practice to good use. At the Bradley Classic on Friday evening, the Illini captured the team title with 90 points, outdistancing runner-up South Dakota (110) by 20 points.

Once again, Alyssa Schneider led the Orange and Blue, finishing third overall in 20:49.4. Colette Falsey (21:39.1) and Hanna Winter (21:48.1) each registered top-20 finishes, claiming 15th and 19th, respectively. Amanda Fox just missed cracking the top 20, grabbing 22nd in a time of 21:52.6. Britten Petrey was the fifth runner into the chute for Illinois, taking 31st with a 22:04.9 showing. Valerie Bobart (22:28.8) and Denise Branch (22:31.6) rounded out the top seven for Illinois.

ILLINOIS RESUTLS (out of 294)
3. Alyssa Schneider, 20:49.4
15. Colette Falsey, 21:39.1
19. Hanna Winter, 21:48.1
22. Amanda Fox, 21:52.6
31. Britten Petrey, 22:04.9
61. Valerie Bobart, 22:28.8
67. Denise Branch, 22:31.6
73. Chloe Schmidt, 22:36.1
90. Samantha Lapp, 22:46.8
131. Megan Lemersal, 23:06.3
139. Lindsey Rakosnik, 23:10.8
193. Courtney Ackerman, 23:39.5

TEAM RESULTS (out of 30)
1. ILLINOIS - 90
2. South Dakota - 110
3. Illinois State - 122
4. Marquette - 135
5. Saint Louis - 212

UP NEXT
The Orange and Blue return to action a week from Sunday, when they travel to Iowa City, Iowa for the Big Ten Championships. The men's race is slated to begin at 10:45 a.m. CT on Nov. 2 at the Ashton Cross Country Course.