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Cross country begins season with NIU Open

September 4, 2013
Jamie Burr

Jamie Burr

Members of the Northern Illinois cross country team kick off their 2013 season Friday, Sept. 6, as they host the fifth annual NIU Open at the NIU North 40.

The meet begins at 6 p.m. with the women’s 5K being the lone race of the event. The Huskies will face Division III power North Central in a dual-scored meet.

“We are excited to open our season, especially since we are able to do so on our home course,” said NIU head coach Greg Hipp. “My primary expectation for our first meet is for the ladies to compete tough and work as a group. If they do that and continue to train as they are, we’ll develop into a successful team by our championship meets.”

NIU enters the season looking to build off a promising 2012 campaign.

Despite being ravaged by injuries late in the year, the Huskies saw plenty of progress individually and at the program level. The team finished higher at each of their four regular season meets than it had at the same competitions in 2011.

The Huskies will also be looking to win their season-opening meet for the second consecutive season, as they claimed top honors at the UIC Opener last year.

This year, the Huskies return most of their core from a year ago in team captain Jamie Burr, senior Claire McAuley, junior Juliane Totzke and sophomores Ali Olson, Leah Raffety and Hannah Savage. In addition, NIU brings in a strong class of newcomers in former Kansas State standout Meghan Heuer, along with freshmen Carly Pederson, Chrissy Monson and Taylor Perkins.

Admission and parking are free for the meet.

For more information on NIU cross country and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.