The Illinois women’s cross-country team’s season was one of improvement.
The team had success, including a first-place team finish at the Illinois Intercollegiate meet, but at times showed its youth, such as a 17th-place finish at the Pre-Nationals meet.
“I would say that we took a big step forward in our confidence and culture,” senior Courtney Yaeger said. “The next step is to make it show.”
Illinois started the season by placing fifth out of eight on its home course in the first race of the season, the Illini Challenge.
Next the Illini competed in Normal, Ill., finishing first out of six at the Illinois Intercollegiate Championships. Yaeger finished first for the Illinois and second overall, leading to Big Ten women’s cross-country co-Athlete of the Week honors.
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Illinois then had arguably its best performance of the season at the Notre Dame Invitational. The Illini placed fifth, behind four teams who were then ranked in the top 20 nationally.
At their next two meets, head coach Jeremy Rasmussen said the Illini showed youth. Illinois finished 17th out of 38 teams at Pre-Nationals and placed only one runner in the top 100 at Bradley.
Illinois ran a strong race on its home course at the Illini Open with sophomore Colette Falsey taking first overall, and three of the other four Illinois runners placing in the top 10.
At the Big Ten Championships, Illinois improved three spots from its last-place finish last year. But the mood was somber after the race, as the Illini had been hoping for a top-five placing.
Illinois’ final competition was the NCAA Midwest Regional, a meet in which the Illini came away with bittersweet victories. The team, with its ninth-place finish, did not place high enough to advance to the national meet but did have two stellar individual performances.
Yaeger, after a fall that more than likely cost her a top-10 finish, ran one of her best races of the season, placing 25th overall. Redshirt freshman Alyssa Schneider finished 12th, pacing the Illini throughout the race.
Both runners finished with all-region honors for their performances.
Nicholas can be reached at [email protected] and @IlliniSportsGuy.
