The Illinois Cross Country Club heads north to Kenosha, Wisconsin for UW-Parkside’s Lucian Rosa Invitational. Last year, the men took ninth and the women took tenth by unofficial count. It”s the team”s first action since a stellar performance at Augustana on September 25.
One of the highlights of Augustana was women”s captain Megan Mocogni”s seventh place finish, good for the second fastest 6K in club history. She”s been leading the women on a tear this fall and they return four of their scoring five from Parkside last year. Mocogni”s roommate Abby Madden will make her season debut after a strong track season. Freshman Anneliese Schulz will look to build on a strong debut at Augustana and Coach Krauklis said she”s looked better and better in every workout. Freshmen Kaitlin Sumler and Becky Haight also return to action after debuting at EIU.
The biggest breakthrough at Parkside last year came from Ryan Somerfield. Somerfield ran a huge 67 second PR on Parkside”s course. Coach Krauk expects to see the ‘”real'” Ryan Somerfield after a big summer of training. David Choi also showed his top seven staying power last year after his breakout race at Augustana. Choi”s roommate Tyler Dixon loves Parkside”s hills and ran a strong race last year. Saturday will also mark Alex ‘”Ohio'” Notton”s debut with the team.
The Parkside field features a strong field of competition from Division I to III as well as the men”s team first club team competition in Wisconsin. But the team”s biggest challenge at Parkside might be the course. The Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross Country Course is a true cross country course through woods and prarie. It”s also very hilly, including an enormous uphill start for the first 800 meters.
The women race at 10 and the men go off at 11. The team will be staying in the north suburbs on Friday night. It”s a short drive from Chicago, so we hope to see some IXC supporters in Kenosha!
