Success Comes in 3rd's at WIU Invite

Both the men's and women's cross country teams came in third at the 6-team Western IL University Early Bird Invitational Friday. The men scored 53 points and were edged by Bradley University with 51 and WIU with 31. They soundly defeated rival Lincoln College, which had 108 points, Knox with 127, and Carl Sandburg with 162. Another third was posted by winner Billy Miller, who posted the third fastest time ever by an ICC runner with his 26:13. Four other runners finished under 29 minutes, the first time ever by an ICC men's team. They were Shane Leiby (8th, 27:25), Michael Donini (13th, 27:55), Cory Shoopman (17th, 28:34), and Kyle Lueken (19th, 28:41). Bobby Deatherage posted a 30:23 in 34th place, Matt McKinney had 31:57 in 41st, and Nick Reed equalled his PR from last year with 33:08 in 47th.

The women's team scored 102 points to take third behind Bradley and WIU, but ahead of Knox and Lincoln. Brittany Carius ran the third fastest women's 6km time with her 24:22 in 10th place. Also running well were Carrie Bunting (23rd, 26:20), Elizabeth Isbell (30th, 27:11), Olivia Coker (31st, 27:24), and Darce Knapp (32nd, 27:32).

Next up: Bradley Open - Friday, September 12 at Detweiller Park.