Tuesday, October 1, 2013 | TechNews

SPORTS 15

Women's XC competes at Elmhurst, UW-Parkside

April Wanagas
TECHNEWS WRITER

The Women’s Cross Country sea-
son has kicked off strong with a series of three
races, each with increasing distance and better
team finishes. The ladies have looked this year
to face tougher opponents and prove they can
compete well with other schools in the NCAA
programs. The first race hosted by Elmhurst
College was 4km in 90-degree heat that ended
with a team finish of sixth out of a twelve team
field.

The following Saturday, a 5k race
was held at University Wisconsin-Parkside,

known for its toughest first mile - an all uphill
climb. This gave the team a taste of some bigger
competition as they went against resilient Di-
vision I and 11 schools such as Butler, Northern
Michigan, Northwestern, and Winona State.
The team kept fighting though and ended with
a 13th place finish in a 17 team field, only bare-
ly beaten by Carthage College.

With this in mind, the women’s
team entered their next race, the Gill Dodd’s
Invite with new goals in mind. This 6k Course
was flat, wound through woods, and a series
of three 2k laps. The women approached the
starting line knowing that this race was lon-
ger, but also an opportunity. Courtney Rouse
finished first for the Scarlet Hawks, 16th place

my

overall, with a time of 23:49.

Closely behind her was Anne Crot-
teau with a difference of only 7 seconds,
landing her a solid 19th placing. Sara Glade
then outkicked several opponents on the fi-
nal stretch of the course, landing both a 3lst
placing and a 24:33 finish. The final two team
scores were rounded out by Greta Zola and
April Wanagas.

After the numbers were crunched,
Illinois Tech ended up finishing 5th in the 12
team field being beaten by WashU—St. Louis,
Illinois Wesleyan, Lake Forest, and the host
school Wheaton.

However, the ladies managed to out

race previous opponent Carthage College,

making the next race that they hold together
even more competitive.

Though the distances have varied,
through comparing mile splits week to week,
the ladies have seen improvement and are
looking forward to the next race back at the
same flat course, but this next time, racing only
a 5k.

Finishing out the four week series of
back to back racing, next week’s field will be
bigger and with each week, every girl grows
stronger. With this in mind the ladies will toe
the starting line with focus and excitement
once again to prove themselves against the tick
of the clock.

Photos by April Wanagas

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