University of Illinois
NCAA Midwest Regional
Women's Cross Country Places Fourth at NCAA Midwest Regional
November 9, 2018 | Women's Cross Country
Best finish for Illini women at the regional since 2009
Peoria, Ill. - Illinois women's cross country ran to a fourth place finish out of 35 competing teams at the NCAA Midwest Regional Friday at Newman Golf Course in Peoria. The fourth place finish is a twenty-spot improvement from last year's 24th place finish at the NCAA Midwest Regional held at Iowa State. Additionally, the result is the best finish for Illinois women's cross country at the NCAA Midwest Regional since 2009.
"The team was outstanding," said head coach Sarah Haveman. "I couldn't be more proud of how they stayed true to who we are and focused after a disappointing result at the Big Ten Championships. We talk a lot about being process-oriented and what our culture is, I think we showed exactly who we are today by bouncing back the way we did."
The Fighting Illini women finished with a final team score of 203. They edged out Northwestern for fourth, who finished with a final score of 205. Northwestern placed higher than Illinois at the EIU Walt Crawford Open and at Big Ten Championships before Illinois earned the better result at the Midwest Regional. The team that Illinois sent to Midwest Regionals was comprised of all underclassmen. Of the Illini runners, four placed in the the overall top-50 of the race.
The Illini were led by sophomore Allison McGrath and freshman Madison Marasco, whose top-25 performances earned each of the Illini runners All-Region honors. McGrath finished first for the Illini, placing 18th overall with a personal-best 6K finish of 21:01.0. Marasco placed 25th overall and finished the 6K race with a time of 21:14.7.
"Allison has been fantastic and steadfast all season and is a true team player," Haveman said. "Madison showed her tremendous spirit, focus, and competitive drive as well as our team culture by finishing strong today."
The Illini also received top-50 overall finishes from sophomore Rebecca Craddock and redshirt freshman Caroline Fix. Craddock placed 38th overall recording a 21:26.9 finish time. Fix set a career-best time for the 6K at Midwest Regionals, finishing the race in 21:33.0, good for 47th overall and fourth on the team. Freshman Emma Milburn earned a spot in the top-100 of the Regional runners, placing 75th overall clocking a time of 21:50.0.
"Rebecca is special," Haveman said. "She has continued to grind it out for her team this season and is ready to really have that pay off. Emma is also special. She has been bought-in and focused from the get go; she has a very exciting career ahead of her."
"Caroline was fantastic today; it's important to note that she has worked very hard for a year to be prepared for this year," Haveman said. "She has be vying to perform like this for her team and she has really stepped up for us."
Rounding out the Illini's strong effort at the Midwest Regional were sophomores Nicki Cast and Katie Stapleton, who recorded finishes of 22:07.1 and 22:38.1 respectively.
"Cast and Stapleton are the core of our culture," Haveman said. "Their team-first mentality is pushing the team and driving our team culture daily."
First-year head coach Sarah Haveman is set to return each member from its best Midwest Regional performance in nine years in 2019.
"We are very excited for the team and glad we will have this line up back plus additions for years to come." Haveman said.
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.
Full Illinois Results:
Women's 6K:
18. Allison McGrath, 21:01.0 (All-Region)
25. Madison Marasco, 21:14.7 (All-Region)
38. Rebecca Craddock, 21:26.9
47. Caroline Fix, 21:33.0
75. Emma Milburn, 21:50.0
104. Nicki Cast, 22:07.1
150. Katie Stapleton, 22:38.1
Team Scores:
Women's Scores
1. Iowa State, 78
2. Oklahoma State, 140
3. Minnesota, 185
4. Illinois, 203
5. Northwestern, 205
