CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Fighting Illini cross country is set to compete at the Bradley Pink Classic on Friday, October 18 and at the Under Armour Pre-National Invitational on Saturday, October 19. The men's cross country team and several members of the women's team will contest Friday's Bradley Pink Classic. The men's 8K white race will begin at 1 p.m. CT, and the men's red 8K red race at 2:30 p.m. CT. The women's 6K white race will start at 1:45 p.m. CT, and the women's 6K red race at 3:15 p.m. CT. Seven members of the No. 20 Illinois women's cross country team will compete for the Illini at the Pre-National Invitational on Saturday at Indiana State. The women's 6K blue race is set to begin at 10 a.m. CT.
Meet Information
Follow the Meet
Fans can stream Pre-Nationals with a subscription to FloTrack. Live Results for the Pre-National Invitational can be found at http://pttiming.com/events/87931607 . Friday's Bradley Pink Classic live results can be accessed at https://results.shazamracing.com/meets/4587 . Fans can follow @IlliniTrackXC for updates during the meet. Results for both races will be posted following the conclusion of both races on fightingillini.com, as well as a recap of the day's competition
Running for the Illini
Pre-Nationals: Nicki Cast, Rebecca Craddock, Olivia Howell, Madison Marasco, Allison McGrath, Emma Milburn, Emma Wilson
Bradley Pink Classic
Women's White Race: Delaney Appino, Madeline Bruce, Kelli Callahan, Brooke Delahanty, Brianna Lausev, Christina Pierini
Women's Red Race: Caroline Fix, Vanessa Flaherty, Katie Hohe, Lauren Katz, Mikaela Lucki, Mikayla Olsen, Victoria Palma, Grace Rogers, Katie Stapleton
Men's White Race: Luke Goebel, Eddie Lennon, Brendan Lockerby, Will O'Brien, Edwin Siuda
Men's Red Race: Zach Dale, Logan Hall, Jack LaLonde, Irwin Loud, Michael Madiol, Bennett Melone, Jack Roberts, Colin Yandel
Coach Haveman On the Meets
"34 student-athletes have a great opportunity this weekend to race at the Bradley Pink Classic or the Pre-National meet. We are greatly looking forward to all of them utilizing this opportunity to better themselves and our program."
About LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course (Pre-Nationals)
The LaVern Gibson Championship course features a challenging, yet manageable, mix of uphill and downhill sections and a simple straightaway start that stretches for nearly the first kilometer before a turn. For spectators, the ability to see nearly the entire race from the right perch. The course has hosted the NCAA Division 1 National Championship 12 times, and will host the 2019 nationals on Nov. 23.
About Newman Golf Course (Bradley Pink Classic)
The Newman Golf Course is a USTFCCCA certified course and has hosted the Missouri Valley Conference and NCAA Midwest Regional Championships. The Men's 8K course consists of the initial 2,000m loop, followed by the inner 2000m loop repeated 3 times before heading into the finish straightaway. The Women's 6K course consists of the initial 2,000m loop, followed by the inner 2000m loop repeated twice before heading into the finish straightaway. he first 2,000m loop is run once and is mostly flat. The second 2,000m loop consists of rolling hills. The course is extremely spectator friendly.
A Look At The Competition
Pre-Nationals
Several of the premier cross country programs in the nation will compete at LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course on Saturday morning. The women's field features nine USTFCCCA Nationally-Ranked programs, including No. 20 Illinois. Ranked opponents competing along with No. 20 Illinois are No. 2 BYU, No. 3 Colorado, No. 7 Michigan, No. 8 Washington, No. 11 Boise State, No. 11 Florida State, No. 17 Ole Miss, No. 26 Boston College and No. 30 Oklahoma State.
Bradley Pink Classic
The Bradley Pink Classic will have 24 programs competing for the meet title in the red races. The meet will feature 10 programs from the state of Illinois, including Illinois, Northern Illinois, Illinois-Chicago, Morton College, DePaul, Bradley, Loyola-Chicago, SIU Edwardsville, Illinois State and Eastern Illinois.
Illini Notes
Illinois Women Nationally Ranked
Fighting Illini women's cross country is ranked No. 20 in the latest USTFCCCA National Coaches Poll, released on October 8. The team debuted in the national rankings for the first time since 2009 at No. 21 on October 1. The Illini are currently ranked No. 2 in the Midwest Region.
Last Time Out
Illini Women's Cross Country Places Second At Buckeye Preview
Fighting Illini women's cross country continued its strong start to the season with a second place finish at the Buckeye Preview. The Illini finished with a team score of 61, edging out USTFCCCA nationally-ranked opponents No. 21 Ohio State (74) and No. 16 Penn State (87).
Illinois junior Rebecca Craddock continued her impressive season, leading the Illini for the third time in as many meets by placing third overall at the Buckeye Preview. Craddock clocked a personal-best finish time of 20:37.3, which is the sixth-fastest 6K finish in program history.
Crossing next for the Illini was freshman Emma Wilson, who finished 12th and timed 21:15.4 in her first collegiate 6K. Emma Milburn finished next, placing 13th overall and recording a 6K PR with a finish time of 21:18.0. It was the the second straight week Milburn clocked a PR, recording a new 5K personal-best the week prior at the John McNichols Invite.
Sophomore Madison Marasco finished 16th overall and fourth on the team, timing 21:21.1. Rounding out the Illini scorers was junior Allison McGrath, who finished the 6K race in 21:30.7 and placed 18th. The Illini finished with a team score of 61 to take second, placing only behind No. 7 Michigan who won the meet with a score of 41.
Irwin Loud Leads Men's Cross Country At Buckeye Preview
Fighting Illini men's cross country redshirt sophomore Irwin Loud earned a top-10 overall finish at the Buckeye Preview at Ohio State. Loud placed eighth overall, clocking a new season-best 8K finish time of 24:55.8.
Sophomore Colin Yandel would finish second for the Illini, timing 25:33.8 and placing 33rd overall. Redshirt senior Zach Dale would cross soon after, recording a finish time of 25:35.2 to finish 35th. Freshmen Jack Roberts and Michael Madiol would round out the Illini top-five, and each runner recorded new season-best 8K finish times. Roberts timed 25:55.3 and placed 50th overall. Madiol would place 55th, finishing the 8K race in 26:03.2. Illinois finished sixth at Saturday's Buckeye Preview, recording a final team score of 143.
Illini in the Midwest Regional Rankings
The Illinois women's team jumped up two spots to No. 2 in the latest USTFCCCA Midwest Regional Rankings announced on October 7. The Illinois men sit ninth in the latest Midwest Region rankings.
Up Next
The Illini begin postseason competition at Big Ten Championships, hosted by Ohio State. Held at The Ohio State University Golf Club, the men's 8K will begin at 9:45 a.m. CT, and the women's 6K will follow at 10:45 a.m. CT.
For complete coverage of Fighting Illini Cross Country, visit FightingIllini.com, follow the Illini on Twitter (@IlliniTrackXC) and Instagram (illinitrackxc) and like Fighting Illini Track and Field & Cross Country on Facebook.
