University of Illinois
Buckeye Preview
Illini Take Down Nationally-Ranked Foes At Buckeye Preview
September 28, 2019 | Women's Cross Country
Women's cross country places second; beats out No. 16 Penn State, No. 21 Ohio State.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Fighting Illini women's cross country continued its strong start to the season with a second place finish at the Buckeye Preview on Saturday. The Illini finished with a team score of 61, edging out USTFCCCA nationally-ranked opponents No. 21 Ohio State (74) and No. 16 Penn State (87).
"The women were great today; this is a big day for our program with the results on paper," said Illinois head cross country coach Sarah Haveman. "But more importantly, this result is because our women are day in and day out committed to one another and our process. We are greatly looking forward to the rest of the season."
Fighting Illini junior Rebecca Craddock continued her impressive season Saturday, leading the Illini for the third time in as many meets by placing third overall at the Buckeye Preview. Craddock clocked a personal-best finish time of 20:37.3, which is the sixth-fastest 6K finish in program history.
Crossing next for the Illini was freshman Emma Wilson, who finished 12th and timed 21:15.4 in her first collegiate 6K. Emma Milburn finished next, placing 13th overall and recording a 6K PR with a finish time of 21:18.0. It's the second straight week Milburn has PR'd, as she set a 5K PR at last week's John McNichols Invitational.
Sophomore Madison Marasco finished 16th overall and fourth on the team, timing 21:21.1. Rounding out the Illini scorers was junior Allison McGrath, who finished the 6K race in 21:30.7 and placed 18th. The Illini, who received votes in this week's USTFCCCA national poll, finished with a team score of 61 to take second, placing only behind No. 7 Michigan who won the meet with a score of 41.
The Illini will now begin prep for Pre-Nationals, which will be held Saturday, October 19 at Indiana State. The women's 6K is scheduled fo 10 a.m. CT.
Team Scores
1. No. 7 Michigan - 41
2. Illinois - 61
3. No. 21 Ohio State- 74
4. No. 16 Penn State- 87
5. Grand Valley State- 31
6. Vanderbilt- 140
7. Temple- 240
8. Miami (Ohio)- 246
9. Michigan State- 255
10. Toledo- 260
11. Northwestern- 316
12. Rutgers- 330
Illinois Individual Results
3. Rebecca Craddock- 20:37.3
12. Emma Wilson- 21:15.4
13. Emma Milburn- 21:18.0
16. Madison Marasco- 21:21.1
18. Allison McGrath- 21:30.7
26. Nicki Cast- 21:46.4
34. Olivia Howell- 22:00.1
36. Caroline Fix- 22:01.7
39. Lauren Katz- 22:05.4
46. Katie Hohe- 22:13.8
54. Katie Stapleton- 22:18.1
70. Mikaela Lucki 22:39.1
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.
