University of Illinois
Illini Open
MXC Put Three in Top-10 at Illini Open
October 21, 2016 | Men's Cross Country
Garrett Lee finishes runner-up
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini men's cross country team placed three in the top-10 at the Illini Open, as the Orange and Blue concluded the regular season on Friday evening. Garrett Lee led the Illini in second place, while Joe Cowlin and Luke Brahm followed in third and eighth, respectively. The Illini did not race enough runners to count towards the overall team score.
"I think it was a good race for us," said senior Garrett Lee. "It's just a fun race to be in, and get a chance to compete one last time this season. I think overall, everyone was happy with how they raced. It was good for the freshmen to get a chance to run in front of their friends and family."
Lee, a senior from Belvidere, Illinois, led the race for much of the 8,000 meters, stayed right with race winner Daniel Gagne until the final stretch, finishing in 25:48.0.
"It's fun to compete in front of friends and family," said Lee. "I put it all on the line and came up a little short. I probably could have ran a little more conservatively in the middle of the race, but, overall I'm pretty happy."
Also joining Lee in the top-10 was junior Joe Cowlin and senior Luke Brahm. Battling two unattached runners, including teammates Jack LaLonde and Luke Schroer, Cowlin used a burst on the straight away to edge out the third-place finish with a time of 25:55.4. Brahm, a senior transfer from Princeton University, followed in eighth with a time of 26:06.8.
Caleb Hummer rounded out the four Illini harriers with a time of 26:32.4, placing 19th overall.
In addition to the four Illini competing for the team this evening, five other Illini competed unattached for the Orange and Blue. Red-shirt freshmen Jack LaLonde (5th/25:57.5) and sophomore Luke Schoroer (6th/25:58.7) each clocked top-10 finishes. Connor Madell (14th/26:22.4), Tony Zea (23rd/26:37.8) and Jared Christiansen (34th/27:35.7) also competed.
Up Next
The Fighting Illini will begin postseason competition with Big Ten Championships, held October 30 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It will be the team's second trip to the Les Bolstad Course after competing at the Roy Griak Invite back on September 24. The men's race is scheduled to commence at 10 a.m. central time.
Full Illinois Results:
2.Garrett Lee, 25:48.0
3.Joe Cowlin, 25:55.4
5. Jack LaLonde (u), 25:57.5
6. Luke Schroer (u), 25:58.7
8.Luke Brahm, 26:06.8
14.Connor Madell (u), 26:22.4
18. Caleb Hummer, 26:32.4
23. Tony Zea (u), 26:37.8
34. Jared Christiansen (u), 27:35.7
