The Illinois Cross Country Club is back in action this weekend at the Augustana Brissman-Lundeen Invitational. The women race at 4:30 and the men go off at 5:15. The invite always promises a strong field of competition for all levels. After a promising start to the season, IXC is ready to race again on the speedy Saukie Golf Course.
New this year, the collegiate race has been split into two divisions to avoid overcrowding. Last year 50 teams competed in the meet as the IXC women took sixth and the men finished 11th. As a top-20 team from last year, IXC will race in the Blue division. The elusive meet t-shirts will now be handed out to the top-20 finishers in each race.
Last year, Jared Ripoli led the team at Augustana, taking 30th. Both Jared and Michael Frintner PR’d by over 30 seconds as the team’s top-two finishers. The 2015 Brismann-Lundeen also marked the debut of Arturo Woodward-Montes and Justin Shim, two sophomores who finished in the top-7 last time out at EIU. Several athletes will make their IXC debuts in Rock Island, Ill. including Michael Gerkin and Richard Skogsberg. Freshman Zach Mesplay has looked strong in workouts and will look to build on a solid outing at EIU.
It’s the first 6K of the year for the women’s team. Last year the team turned heads with an outstanding performance at this meet, highlighted by a blazing seventh-place finish from former women’s captain Megan Mocogni. This Friday, freshman Emily Condic will compete in her first-ever 6K after a strong showing at EIU. Sophomore Jillian Monier, who finished in the top seven at Augustana last year, will make her season debut.
Friday night is an excellent opportunity for fast times for everyone competing. Check back here for more updates on the team’s performance at Augustana.
