University of Illinois
Big Ten Championships
WXC Prepped for Big Ten Championships
October 28, 2016 | Women's Cross Country
Race to be broadcast live on Big Ten Network
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini begin postseason competition with Big Ten Championships on October 30 at the Les Bolstad Course in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Making their second appearance on this course this season, the Illini will look to build off of their Roy Griak performances back on September 24. The women's race is set to begin at 10 a.m. central time and will broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
| Big Ten Championships | |
|---|---|
| When | October 30 // 10 a.m. // BTN & BTN2Go |
| Where | Les Bolstad Golf Course // Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Team Info | Live Stream | Meet Notes | Performance List | Media Guide | Quick Facts | Twitter |
| Meet Links | Meet Info | Course Info | 6K Map |
Follow the Meet:
Results will be shared through USTFCCCA's National Results Wall. Fans can also follow @IlliniMXC on Twitter for updates throughout the meet. A full recap and results will be posted on fightingillini.com following the conclusion of the race.
Running for the Illini:
The Orange and Blue will depend on a balanced approach from their top-five unit to perform well at Big Ten Championships. All upperclassmen, Audrey Blazek, Denise Branch, Amanda Fox, Valerie Bobart, Kim Seger and Megan Lemersal will lead the group, while true freshmen Diane Lipa, Julia Schultz and Grace Rogers make their conference meet debuts.
A Look at the Competition
The Big Ten is again led defending champion Michigan, as they enter the meet ranked No. 6, and Penn State at No. 9.
Michigan State also enters the meet ranked, sitting at No. 27, while host Minnesota is receiving votes. Defending individual Big Ten champion Erin Finn returns as a senior, boasting four meet individual titles and a runner-up finish at the Roy Griak Invite.
Coach Jones on the Meet
"I think there are subtle things that you pick up on. Knowing how race runs will be really important and will help us stay patient and calm, particularly at the start of the race. It's the Big Ten and we want to be able to rise up to the occasion of that."
Time Management
Les Bolstad PR Personal-Best Time
Audrey Blazek 23:16 (9/24/16) 21:32.7 - Iowa Regional Preview (10/1/16)
Valerie Bobart 23:12.6 (9/26/15) 21:33.8 - NCAA Midwest Regional (9/9/16)
Denise Branch 23:17.0 (9/26/15) 21:19 - Bradley Pink Classic (10/14/16)
Amanda Fox 23:05 (9/27/14) 21:12.7 - NCAA Midwest Regional (11/14/14)
Diane Lipa 26:05 (9/24/16) 23:13.5 - Iowa Regional Preview (10/1/16)
Grace Rogers 26:07 (9/24/16) 23:39.3 - Iowa Regional Preview (10/1/16)
Julia Schultz - 22:54 - Bradley Pink Invite (10/14/16)
Kim Seger 24:20 (9/24/16) 22:26.7 - Iowa Regional Preview (10/14/16)
Illini Win Iowa Regional Preview
The fruits of the team's labor showed at the Iowa Regional Preview, as the Illini won the meet, beating Big Ten foes Iowa and Northwestern. Audrey Blazek led the team for the third straight meet, finishing third overall, while Denise Branch, Amanda Fox and Valerie Bobart added in top-10 finishes of their own.
Branching Out
Now a junior, Denise Branch continues to become a steady force in the Illinois line-up, placing first or second on the team at every meet this season. Branch set a personal-best time en route to finishing first on the team at the Bradley Pink Classic on October 14, clocking a personal-best 6K time of 21:18.9. Branch also led the team in the season-opener, placing fifth overall at the Illini Challenge.
Blazing a Trail
For the third straight meet, junior Audrey Blazek paced the Illini, while finishing first on the team at the Iowa Regional Preview. After placing sixth at the Illinois State Invite, Blazek bested her 2015 Griak Invite time by 10 seconds despite the soggy conditions at Les Bolstad Course and set a new personal-best time at the Iowa Regional Preview.
Trio Pacing Illini
Fighting Illini runners Audrey Blazek, Amanda Fox and Denise Branch have guided the Orange & Blue in each meet they've competed in this season. In three of those meets, the three have each placed in the top-10 individually. Blazek has taken top honors at Illinois State, Graik and Iowa, while Branch has crossed the finish line first at the Illini Challenge and Bradley Classic.
Veteran Presence
While the squad loses key contributors Alyssa Schneider and Britten Petrey, Coach Jones returns 10 upperclassmen, six seniors, for 2016. Of the 10 veterans, six set new personal-records at Big Ten Championships last November. The Illini also welcome back senior Amanda Fox after she missed the 2015 season. Fox finished second on the team, sixth overall, at the Illini Challenge.
Seger Stabilizes Top-Five
Through the first three races of the season, senior Kim Seger has quietly been a reliable runner for Coach Jones. With some lineup uncertainty entering the season, Seger has provided a consistent five runner for the team to rely on. At the Iowa Regional Preview, Seger bested her 2015 Griak Invite time by 45 seconds.
Up Next
The Illini will continue postseason competition in Iowa City, Iowa at the NCAA Midwest Regional on Friday, November 11. The Orange and Blue will enter with confidence running on the Ashton Cross Country Course, as they won the Iowa Regional Preview meet back on October 1.
