MEET PREVIEW
The Fighting Illini women's cross country team will travel to Iowa for the Big Ten Championships on Sunday, Nov. 2. The six-kilometer race will begin at 10:45 a.m. CT at Ashton Cross Country Course in Iowa City, Iowa.

COACH JONES ON THE MEET
"I think we have done a good job this season of putting ourselves in a position to be at our best on Sunday," said head coach Scott Jones. "We have done the work and run the races, so now it comes down to putting it all together on race day."

"I think we have a greater level of confidence because we have had success both as a team and individually," stated Jones. "There is going to be a tremendous environment and an unbelievable atmosphere on Sunday. We have to be excited about this opportunity and the challenge, and I think we are really looking forward to this meet with enthusiasm."

CHAMPIONSHIPS FIELD
Each of the 14 schools in the Big Ten will compete in the championship meet, with six teams being recognized in the latest version USTFCCCA's National Coaches' Poll. Last year's champion Michigan State enters the weekend as the top team in the nation. Michigan and Wisconsin also cracked the top 10, coming in at fourth and eighth, respectively. Ohio State (19th), Minnesota (20th) and Penn State (RV) round out the nationally honored squads.

ILLINI SET TO RUN
The Illini will be traveling with 10 runners to the Big Ten Championships, but only nine will be allowed to race. Of the 10 Orange and Blue runners on the travel roster, four competed in the conference meet last season. The group also features two runners who have raced for the championship during their collegiate careers. Amanda Fox, Britten Petrey, Alyssa Schneider and Hanna Winter competed in last year's conference meet, while Colette Falsey and Chloe Schmidt have represented the Illini in previous years. Valerie Bobart, Denise Branch, Samantha Lapp and Megan Lemersal would each be competing at the Big Ten Championships for the first time.

2014 Big Ten Championships Roster

Valerie Bobart // Sophomore // Northbrook, Ill.
Has competed in every meet this season for the Orange and Blue, scoring points in three of them ... Finished fifth for the squad and 10th overall at the Illini Open with a 5K personal-best of 18:48.35 ... Placed sixth for the Illini at the Bradley Invite in 6K personal-best of 22:28.8 ... Was the fourth Illinois runner to complete the Roy Griak Invite ... Was the 10th Illini runner to finish at the Illinois State Invite ... Finished 12th overall and fifth for the squad the Illini Challenge, posting a time of 18:59.

Denise Branch // Freshman // Brooklyn, N.Y.
Made her collegiate debut at the Bradley Invite, finishing seventh for the Illini in a time of 22:31.6.

Colette Falsey // R-Junior // Schaumburg, Ill.
Was one of the top-three finishers for the Illini at every meet ... Was named Big Ten Co-Athlete of the Week after winning the Illini Open ... Earned her second collegiate win at the Illini Open, finishing in a time of 17:44.47 ... Recorded a 6K personal-best of 21:39.1 at the Bradley Invite, finishing second for the Illini and 15th overall ... Finished second for the Illini and third overall at the Illinois State Invite in a 5K personal-best of 17:37 ... Was the third Illini runner to cross the line at the Illini Challenge, finishing sixth overall.

Amanda Fox // Junior // Naperville, Ill.
Scored points for the team in each of the four races she competed in ... Finished fourth for the Illini and 22nd overall at the Bradley Invite ... Was second for the Orange and Blue at the Roy Griak Invite ... Finished fourth overall at both the Illinois State Invite and the Illini Challenge.

Samantha Lapp // Freshman // O'Fallon, Ill.
Competed in four meets for the Illini this season ... Finished eighth for the Orange and Blue at the Illini Open ... Was the ninth Illinois runner into the chute at the Bradley Invite ... Placed sixth for the Illini at both the Illinois State Invite and the Illini Challenge.

Megan Lemersal // Sophomore // Park Ridge, Ill.
Competed in every meet for the team this season ... Finished sixth for the Illini and 15th overall at the Illini Open ... Was the 10th Illini finisher at the Bradley Invite ... Placed seventh on the team at the Roy Griak Invite ... Placed 33rd overall at the Illinois State invite, registering a personal-best 5K time of 18:37 ... Finished seventh for the Illini at the Illini Challenge.

Britten Petrey // R-Junior // Schaumburg, Ill.
Has consistently been a top-five finisher for the Illini this season ... Finished third for the squad and fifth overall at the Illini Open ... Was the sixth Illini runner into the chute at the Bradley Invitational with a season-best 6K time of 22:04.9 ... Crossed the finish line as the fifth Orange and Blue runner at the Roy Griak Invite ... Registered a personal-best 5K time of 17:59 at the Illinois State Invite, finishing 11th overall ... Earned an eighth-place finish at the Illini Challenge.

Chloe Schmidt // Senior // State College, Pa.
Competed in every race this season ... Placed sixth overall and fourth for the team at the Illini Open ... Finished eighth for the Illini at both the Bradley Invite and the Illini Challenge ... Was the sixth runner for the Orange and Blue at the Roy Griak Invite ... Placed 54th overall at the Illinois State Invite.

Alyssa Schneider // R-Junior // Bartlett, Ill.
Was the top finisher for the Illini in every race she competed in this season ... Finished third overall in a season-best 6K time of 20:49.4 ... Placed 58th overall at the Roy Griak Invite ... Won the Illinois State Invite and the Illini Challenge, recording a personal-best 5K time of 17:18 at ISU.

Hanna Winter // Sophomore // Arlington Heights, Ill.
Scored points for the Illini in four of the five meets she has competed in this season ... Finished second for the squad and fourth overall at the Illini Open ... Recorded a personal-best 6K time of 21:48.1 at the Bradley Invite, finishing 19th overall ... Was the third Illini finisher at the Roy Griak Invite ... Placed fifth for the team and 14th overall at the Illinois State Invite, registering a personal-best 5K time of 18:08 ... Finished 21st overall at the Illini Challenge.

LAST TIME OUT
After winning the Bradley Classic one week ago, the Illinois women's cross country team got back to its winning ways at the Illini Open on Friday. The Orange and Blue took the team title, while Colette Falsey earned the individual victory.

Falsey broke the tape in a time of 17:44.47, nearly 13 seconds ahead of Colleen Weatherford of Butler. Hanna Winter (18:14.78), Britten Petrey (18:22.37) and Chloe Schmidt (18:29.10) were the second, third and fourth runners for the Illini, finishing fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively. Valerie Bobart, the Orange and Blue's fifth runner, garnered a 10th-place finish with a time of 18:48.35. Megan Lemersal (18:58.26) and Nicole Choquette (19:06.54) rounded out Illinois' top seven.

UP NEXT
The Illini will have next weekend off before competing in the NCAA Midwest Regionals on Nov. 14 in Peoria, Ill.