DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University cross country team will compete in its final regular season meet of the fall campaign on Friday when the Huskies race at the Bradley Pink Classic at the Newman Golf Course in Peoria, Ill.

It’s been three weeks since the Huskies last raced at the Roy Griak Invitational on Sept. 26, and NIU cross country head coach Adrian Myers has been impressed with the way his entire team have gone about preparing for this meet.

“I think we’re in a position right now to begin stepping into another level competitively,” Myers said. “The depth of our squad is starting to come together, and that’s very exciting. This weekend, we face a highly charged field with an opportunity to prove some things within the region."

NIU will once again be led by super sophomore Kelsey Hildreth (Byron, Ill./Byron), while fantastic freshmen Maura Beattie (Woodstock, Ill./Woodstock), Ericka Hibser (Lewiston, Ill./Lewiston) and a host of other Huskies head to the Bradley Classic to compete in both the red and white divisions at the annual race. The white division race begins at 3:40 p.m., while the red division meet starts at 5:05 p.m.

Last season, NIU cross country finished 12th out of 32 teams at the Bradley Classic, with Hildreth leading the way by finishing fourth and posting an NIU school record time in the six-kilometer distance at 20:55.7.

Coach Myers also sees this race as the perfect opportunity to prepare for the upcoming Mid-American Conference Championships that will be held on Oct. 31 in Akron, Ohio.

“Our goals for this weekend are the same as they’ll be at the MAC Championships in two weeks: execute and compete. Plain and simple,” Myers added. “We’ve prepared very well, and now it’s time to start testing our metal before championship preparations.”

--NIU--