DEKALB, Ill. – Brooke Valentine (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West) and Katelyn Robbins (Liberty, Ill./Liberty) led the way with top-10 finishes as the Northern Illinois University women's cross country team opened the season at the First State Bank Huskie Challenge on the North 40 Course on Friday evening (Sept. 2). 

Valentine was first across the line for NIU with a time of 19:19.28 while Robbins was 10th overall in 19:42.26. 

"These small, low-key meets are good because there is not a lot of pressure and that allows you to do some things you can't do in a bigger meet, but there are also a lot of gaps," said NIU head coach Jamie Moreno. "Sometimes when you get in one of those gaps by yourself in a race it makes it a little bit tougher. 

"I thought we ran pretty well; we have a lot of work to do. We are definitely not content on where we are but it's the first step and it give us something to build on. We have only been in the grass one or two times, and when we get in the grass a little bit more and do some workouts in the grass it will show. But I was pleased with the girls, we have a lot of work to do but I am happy with where we are at."

Three other Huskies finished in the top-15, led by Elizabeth Kramer (Lincoln, Neb./South Dakota), running a time of 19:45.32, to take 12th. Joy Jackson (North Aurora, Ill./Benet Academy) was 13th in 19:58.32 while Carly Leonard (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./College of Lake County) was 15th in 20:47.83. 

Northwestern's Skye Ellis won the meet with a time of 18:21.38. 

NIU will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Tom Hoffman Invitational in Whitewater, Wis. 

Team Standings
1. Northwestern, 15
2. NIU, 49

NIU Individuals
7. Brooke Valentine, 19:19.28
10. Katelyn Robbins, 19:42.26
12. Elizabeth Kramer, 19:45.32
13. Joy Jackson, 19:58.32
15. Carly Leonard, 20:47.83
16. Julia Finegan, 20:54.85
17. Emma Vorpagel, 22:05.80
18. Sarah McLaughlin, 22:05.98