Full Results

URBANA, Ill. - The Northern Illinois University women's cross country opened its 2015 season with a successful race at the Illini Challenge on Friday evening, finishing second at the Illinois Arboretum.

NIU's 45 points earned from its top-five finishers allowed the Huskies to take second place in the season-opening meet in Urbana, Ill., claiming second spot as a team - ahead of Missouri (46 points) and behind host Illinois (33 points). The lowest points total in cross country wins the event.

Three Huskies completed the five-kilometer race in the top 10, led by sophomore Kelsey Hildreth (Byron, Ill./Byron) and her second-place effort in 17:48.0 behind the victorious Alyssa Schneider of Illinois, a returning All-American. Katie Bristow (Lerwick, Scotland/Glasgow Caledonian) and Ericka Hibser (Lewiston, Ill./Lewiston) - both making their NIU debuts - also finished fifth and seventh in times of 18:30.6 and 18:40.9, respectively.

While another debutant, Maura Beattie (Woodstock, Ill./Woodstock) was also running towards the front of the pack and likely would've helped NIU earn victory at the meet had she not been pulled from the race due to a blister, veterans Carly Pederson (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) and Taylor Perkins (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville South) were on hand to round out the NIU scoring results with finishes in 13th and 18th in times of 19:38.5 and 19:57.2, respectively.

New NIU cross country head coach Adrian Myers was impressed with his team's first performance under his tutelage, highlighting the display of depth and talent the Huskies showed on Friday.

"I was very impressed with our depth. We're certainly in a good place right now, and I'm very pleased with what I saw this evening," Myers said. "It was unfortunate the Maura had to be withdrawn or else we may have won the meet against two teams ranked in the top 10 in the region, but we didn't want to risk anything. This race is a great starting point for our season, with the ultimate goal of being ready for the MAC Championships."

The second-place finish was NIU's best team result in a race featuring multiple Division I teams since the Huskies on UIC Opener to kick off the 2012 campaign.

The Huskies will race again at the Illinois State challenge next Friday in Normal, Ill.

--NIU--