Sept. 3, 2010

Complete Results

MADISON, Wis. - The Northern Illinois cross country team faced off against some of the nation's top competitors Friday afternoon, when the Huskies opened their 2010 season at second-annual Badger Classic. Sophomore Courtney Oldenburg led the Huskies to a sixth-place finish in Madison, Wis. when she raced to an eighth-place finish overall at the Zimmer Cross Country Course.

Oldenburg picked up just where she left off in the 2009 season when she finished first for the Huskies with a four-kilometer time of 14:52. The sophomore finished eighth overall at the event. Senior Breanna Brevitt grabbed the second-place finish for the Huskies, when she ran the race in a time of 16:04.

In NIU's season opener several Huskies raced to strong finishes and as the season progresses NIU assistant cross country coach Mark McConeghey hopes to see continued improvement from the team.

"For the first meet of the season I think the girls ran really well," said NIU assistant cross country coach Mark McConeghey. "I think we saw some of the girls perform well, but as a team we need step up a little. I'd like to see the second through fifth places run a little closer together, and get a little closer to our first spot."

Freshmen Nora Ferguson, Lindsay DeReadt and Alexis Capps rounded out the top-five finishers for the Huskies at the Badger Classic. Ferguson finished just three seconds behind Brevitt with a time of 16: 07 to finish third for NIU. DeReadt ran the race in a time of 16:14, while Capps ran a time of 16:25 to finish fourth and fifth for the Huskies, respectively.

NIU finished sixth at the classic with 154 points. Northwestern notched the top spot with just 23 points, while Marquette (60) and No. 26 Wisconsin (83) rounded out the top three finishers.

"It's early in the season still, and we'll have to see how we continue to improve as the season progresses," said McConeghey. "In practice the girls have been working really hard, and I think if they keep working hard and have a positive attitude we should do well this season."

The Huskies will continue action next weekend when the Huskies return to DeKalb to host the Huskie Open on Sept. 11 at 11:15 a.m.