Sept. 27, 2008
Results
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. -
Sophomore Jenny Kraakevik led the Illinois State pack as the Redbird women's cross country team finished fifth in the women's 6K race at the Brissman-Ludeen Invitational, hosted by Augustana College at the Saukie Golf Course Saturday.
Washington University's women's team won the meet with 93 points out of 27 teams, while the Olivet Nazarene men's cross country team took top honors amongst 28 teams with 63 points.
Kraakevik crossed the finish line first for the Redbirds at the 23:23.5 mark (18th place-finish) and was followed by a couple of her teammates. Freshmen Hannah Hogan (23:33.5) and Emily Gallup (23:41.4) finished right after each other taking 24th and 25th, respectively.
"I was really please with Jenny because last weekend at the home meet she fell at the finish line from dehydration and I think it really shook her up," Illinois State head coach Jeff Bovee said. "For her to bounce back and to have a strong race today was great. She just went out there and competed and put everything on the line and was not afraid to test the limits."
Freshman Ashley Salzman clocked in with a time of 23:57.8 and sophomore Lisa Devereux posted a 24:19.5 finish to round out the scoring times for Illinois State, finishing 36th and 51st, respectively.
"This was one of the best races that Lisa has had at Illinois State," said Bovee. "She really raced the last 200 meters and was able to pass a lot of people at the end for a strong finish."
In the men's 8K race the Redbirds ran four runners, which was not enough to field a team score. Senior Brian Syring was the first to cross the finish line for ISU at the 26:43.9 mark to take the No. 32 position.
Rounding out the performance for the Redbird men were freshman Nick Geyer (26:59.8), senior Ryan Lay (27:25.8) and freshman Drew Isbell (27:40.6) who took the No. 42, 62, and 73 finishes, respectively.
"Brian and Nick ran well," said Bovee. "Nick improved by over a minute from last weekend and Brian ran even splits throughout the race. In all we got everything accomplished that we wanted to and we should be able to build from this."
Illinois State will be back in action next weekend at the Notre Dame Invitational held in Notre Dame, Ind., on the University Golf Course Friday, Oct. 3.
