Oct. 16, 2009

DEKALB, Ill. - After a three-week break from competition, the Northern Illinois women's cross country team will take competition on the road this weekend, as the Huskies travel to Wisconsin-LaCrosse for the Tori Neubauer Invitational, Saturday. The six-kilometer race is set to begin at 11:30 a.m., at the Maple Grove Golf Course in West Salem, Wis.

"I think the break is going to help us," assistant cross country coach Mark McConeghey said. "The girls have had a chance to train and a chance to get a little healthier and a little more rested. Racing every weekend is tough and we did that for four weeks in a row, and I think the rest and workouts we had over the break are going to help them in this meet."

The Huskies will face competition from 33 colleges and club teams at the Invite. There will be five Division I schools competing at the Invite including, Minnesota, North Dakota State, Northern Illinois, South Dakota State and Wisconsin.

McConeghey feels this competition will help prepare the team for the Mid-American Conference Championships.

"I think the girls know this meet is going to determine who runs at championships and hopefully that is going to motivate them run well this weekend," said McConeghey.

In the NIU's last competition the Huskies traveled to Minnesota for the Roy Griak Invitational, on Sept. 26. Freshman Courtney Oldenburg (West Salem, Wis./West Salem) led the Huskies at the invite with a 6k time of 23:32, while teammate Nancy Nieto (Elgin, Ill./Streamwood/Missouri State) followed closely behind with a time of 23:45 to place second for NIU. Sunsea Shaw (South Bend, Ind./Riley High School), Breanna Brevitt (Dixon, Ill./Dixon) and Amanda Trancoso (Rock Falls, Ill./Newman Catholic) rounded out the competition for the Huskies at the invite.

Following this weekend's competition, the Huskies will take a two week break before heading to the MAC Championships, Oct. 31, in Athens, Ohio.