Illini Gain Valuable Experience At Pre-NCAA Meet
October 16, 1999 | Women's Cross Country
Oct. 16, 1999
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The University of Illinios ran at the Pre-NCAA meet in Bloomington, Indiana this morning at the IU Cross Country Course. The men, competing against several nationally ranked teams, ran to a 28th place finish in the "A" race. Senior Ryan Eason (Manchester, Mo./Parkway South) was first for the Illini and 96th overall. Eason ran a 25:41.15, a nine second improvement from two weeks ago on the same couse at Indiana. Senior Jon Russell (Cystal Lake, Ill./Cystal Lake Central) ran second for the orange and blue, covering the 8-K course in 25:49.69.
"All I can say that this was missed opportunity," head coach Gary Wieneke said. "We didn't lose anything, but we didn't gain anything. If there is one thing we can take out of this, it was valuable to be in a meet with all these teams. The team saw what happens in big races like this and they'll know what to do next time."
In the men's "B" race, sophomore John Kronforst (Prospect Heights, Ill,/Wheeling) ran to a 31st place finish. Kronforst's time, 26:17.67, would have placed the sophomore as Illinois' fifth finisher in the "A" race.
The Illinois women raced in the "B" race at Indiana, placing tenth. Leading the charge was freshman Cecelia Williams (Elmhurst, Ill./York). Willimas finished ninth overall, running 18:42.18 over the 5-K course. This was the second time this season the freshman has placed first for the Illini.
Senior Tara Mendozza (Aurora, Colo./Eaglecrest) ran to an 18th place finish, covering the course in 19:04.70. Freshman Amber Hunt (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) finished third for the Illini in 19:17.83.
Men's Team Results ("A" Race) Illinois Results
1.Stanford 126 96. Ryan Eason 25:41.15
2.Colordado 140 105. Jon Russell 25:45.69
3.Arizona 194 117. Scott McClennan 25:52.20
4.Georgetown 194 142. Mike Lucchessi 26:03.80
28. Illinois 645 185. Tim Moran 26:32.46
202. Justin Mitchell 26:47.42
222. Jason Van Swol 27:20.89
Women's Team Results ("B" Race) Illinois Results
1.Western Kentucky 117 9. Cecelia Williams 18:42.18
2. Airforce Academy 121 18. Tara Mendozza 19:04.70
3.Bowling Green State 132 28. Amber Hunt 19:17.83
4.Central Michigan 133 68. Lyndsey Dunnavan 20:03.73
9. Illinois 210 87. Kathleen Hennessy 20:28.37
97. Jamie Paul 20.36.10
106. Amanda Smith 20:49.76
