Its been three weeks since the Illinois State cross country team was last in action, so it would be an understatement to say the Birds will be ready to go this weekend when they compete in the 31st Annual Sean Early Loyola Lakefront Intercollegiate - Open Cross Country Invitational.
Illinois States mens and womens teams will be competing in downtown Chicago this weekend against one of the largest fields of the year. The prestigious Sean Earl brings runners of all ages, from all over the United States and Canada.
The meet will begin with an Open Race 5K / Elementary Boys and Girls 3K at 8:00 am. High School boys and girls teams, both JV and Varsity, will then take to the course, followed by the collegiate women at 11:15. The men will be the last group off, as they begin at 12:00. Following the morning of competition, an award ceremony will begin at approximately 12:45.
Illinois State cross country coach Chris Bailey will again look to Lauren Ritt on the womens side and Jeremy Doherty on the mens side to lead the way for his squads.
In two meets this season, Ritt has one victory and another top ten finish to her credit. Doherty has been the top male finisher in the prior two meets this season as well, with a third place finish at the Redbird Challenge and a 13th place finish at the Bradley Invite. At the Bradley Invite, Doherty set a personal best in the 8K with a time of 25:35.66.
