The Illinois Cross Country Club will compete at the UW-Parkside Lucian Rosa Invite this weekend in Kenosha, Wis. The meet is held on the Wayne E. Dannehal National Cross Country Course, a difficult course o’er hill and dale that will challenge runners. Last year, IXC impressed at this meet as the men finished third and the women finished fifth.
The men will look to build on two strong showings at the season’s first two races. Last year, grad student Auburn Jimenez was the team’s top finisher. This season, sophomore Willy Wolf will look to continue his hot start to the season on the team’s most challenging course yet. Head coach Ryan Somerfield has had a history of success at Parkside, he had a breakout race in Kenosha his sophomore year. But no one on the team has more history at Parkside than senior Jared Ripoli. Jared will be racing on the Dannehal course for the tenth time and will look to leave a strong final impression. Last year, he finished twelvth as the team’s second man.
Last season, it was a record-breaking performance for women’s captain Megan Mocogni- she smashed the club’s 5K record in a third place overall finish. Last year, the veteran-laden squad showed off its pack at this meet, this year, there’s opportunity for a new look women’s team to step up. Some of the women’s top runners this season will not compete on Saturday, so behind consistent contributors like senior Allison Gibson, the door is open for new faces. Sophomore Jillian Monier made her season debut last week and started her season in the top seven, and high school teammate/junior Erin McKee could also make a splash.
The men go off tomorrow morning at 10, and the women follow at 11. Kenosha is a short drive from Chicago, so we hope to see lots of support for IXC at the meet!
