University of Illinois
B1G Championship
No. 17 Illinois Finishes Third at Big Ten Championships
January 30, 2021 | Women's Cross Country
RECAP
SHELBYVILLE-Ind. - No. 17 Illinois women's cross country finished third at the Big Ten Championships on Saturday at Blue River Cross Country Course in Shelbyville, Ind. The Illini were led by senior Rebecca Craddock, as she placed ninth overall in the 6k race with a time of 20:45.2. Senior Allison McGrath followed Craddock in, placing 13th overall with a time of 21:00.1. Craddock and McGrath were each awarded second team All-Big Ten honors for their respective races, given to athletes placing between seventh and 14th place at the meet.
"The women were great," said head cross country coach Sarah Haveman. "This is not an easy task we are asking of our cross country student athletes. One race, one day to show up in the middle of a track season and compete in a Big Ten Championship. They did what they are great at doing and came together and rose to the occasion despite us not being able to field our full line up. They continue to work to take our program to new levels and they are having fun doing it. They continue to race boldly and authentically and it continues to pay off."
The Fighting Illini finished with a total team score of 79, with their five top scorers all finishing within the top-25 overall. Their third place finish is their highest at the conference championship since 2009.
After McGrath, Ayah Aldadah and Emma Milburn crossed the finish line for Illinois, 15th and 19th place respectively. Aldadah came across with a time of 21:01.7 and Milburn finished with a time of 21:08.5. Rounding out the Illini scorers was Mikaela Lucki, who grabbed 23rd place with a race of 21:13.9.
No. 17 ranked Illinois battled against a competitive Big Ten field, featuring six other programs nationally ranked by the USTFCCCA.
Craddock's time of 20:45.5 moves her into ninth place in school history in the 6k race. She also holds the number seven spot with her 20:37 run at the Buckeye Preview in 2019. In addition, she holds the record for eighth and ninth fastest 5k times in school history.
"Rebecca is a tremendous leader for our program," Haveman commented on the senior. "She chose to take this jump with me a few years ago and it has been a very special journey and one I am so very grateful for. Her dedication and faith in her teammates and our program continues to drive us forward and to new levels. There are not very many student athletes that can say they have led their team at the Big Ten XC championships for four straight years. It is a testament to the kind of student athlete and teammate she is."
Team Scores
- Michigan State - 48
- Minnesota - 76
- ILLINOIS - 79
- Indiana - 101
- Ohio State - 110
- Wisconsin – 135
- Northwestern – 209
- Penn State – 223
- Nebraska – 228
- Purdue – 239
Illinois Results
9. Rebecca Craddock – 20:45.5
13. Allison McGrath – 21:00.1
15. Ayah Aldadah – 21:01.7
19. Emma Milburn – 21:08.5
23. Mikaela Lucki – 21:13.9
36. Olivia Howell – 21:32.4
47. Katie Stapleton – 21:49.2
60. Katie Hohe – 22:05.1
69. Caroline Fix – 22:20.4
79. Nicki Cast – 22:36.9
82. Kelli Callahan – 22:47.1
Next Up
The Illini Cross Country teams will compete next in the NCAA Championships in Stillwater, Okla. on March 15.
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.
