The women’s cross country team began its season Friday night with a Third-place finish in the Hawkeye Open in Iowa City, Iowa. Running in the meet were five freshman and one sophomore transfer. Head coach Karen Harvey looked at the race as a time-trial and a chance for the runners to accomplish individual goals.

“These are development kids, they are doing their best,” Harvey said. “They were given a chance to wear the jersey, it’s another chance for them to prove themselves.”

Freshman Jamie Kuhl was impressive in her Illini debut, finishing in fourth place with a time of 10:49.

“Kuhl led for more than half the race,” Harvey said. “I didn’t tell her to do that. She went out too hard, and she payed for it, but she was brave, and I was proud of her. Even though she went out too fast, she still kept a good pace.”

Freshman Erin Robertson and sophomore Jacqui Aubert finished in 20th and 22nd places, with times of 11:19 and 11:22, respectively.

“Erin can run much higher. She was sick in that race and we didn’t even know it; she felt terrible,” said Harvey.

Rounding out the rest of the Illini runners were freshman Tec Fernado in 30th place and a time of 11:32, freshman Claire Kissane with an 11:40 in 35th place, and freshman Kelly Smith in 47th place with a time of 13:34.

“The goal was to get one race in, and get confidence before the home meet,” Harvey said.

The Illini continue to look forward to their lone home meet of the year, the Illini Pack It Up Challenge, on Sept. 17.

“We are training hard, lifting hard, doing ab workouts; we’re doing three workouts a week,” Harvey said.

Harvey’s goal is to have her team in the best condition possible for later in the month.

“When you race in the big meets, you want tough skin,” Harvey said. “We don’t race to race, we race with a purpose. Once the Notre Dame meet comes along, you are getting to the big-time races, so the race is easy compared to the training.”

While it was a surprise to Harvey that her team finished third in Iowa, the goal is for her runners to keep preparing and fighting for position on the team.

“I am only traveling nine, and these girls know that,” she said. “You have to earn it.”