Women's Cross Country | October 28

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Emma Planck (Dowington, Pa./Downington West) led the way for the Northern Illinois University cross country team as she finished 41st at the Mid-American Conference Championship on Saturday (Oct. 28) on the Mel Brodt Cross Country Course. Planck ran a time of 22:11.62 as the Huskies finished 11th in the team competition. 

Eastern Michigan won the team competition with 44 points, Emily Paupore of Central Michigan won the individual race in a time of 20:30.27. 

"We improved by one place from last year, so that is progress," said NIU head coach Juan Carrillo. "Emma Planck ran her fastest 6K time as a Huskie and Julia Finegan had a PR also today. Some of our other runners were also close to their PR's, so overall it was progress. This year's race was faster (than last year) and we are moving up, so that is good."

Julia Finegan (Palatine, Ill./Fremd) was the second Huskie across the line as she ran a personal best six-kilometer time of 22:27.05, finishing 51st.

"Julia was fighting an injury for the last two weeks, so to come here today and run with a lot of heart and compete, I'm proud of that," said Carrillo. "Emma Planck dealt with illness throughout the season and to come here and have her fastest race as a Huskie, I'm proud of that. There is good energy and chemistry in our team and that's what you need to start building a culture."

Katelyn Robbins (Liberty, Ill./Liberty) ran a time of 22:51.32 to finish third among NIU runners, 72nd overall. Joy Jackson (North Aurora, Ill./Benet Academy) was just behind Robbins with a time of 23:10.01, 79th overall.

"For this group and what they endured last year, to be here, healthy compared to last year when they didn't know if we would have enough (healthy) runners to compete," said Carrillo. "That was a big success for us, to have seven girls on the line healthy, and for some of them to run PR's, that is progress, I'll take that. They gave me their all today and I can't ask more than that. We will continue to get better and make our team better for future years."

Up next for the Huskies is a trip to Stillwater, Okla., for the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship on Friday, Nov. 10. 

Team Scores
1. Eastern Michigan, 44
2. Toledo, 55
3. Ohio, 95
4. Akron, 126
5. Bowling Green, 128
6. Central Michigan, 146
7. Western Michigan, 187
8. Buffalo, 213
9. Miami, 225
10. Ball State, 243
11. NIU, 310
12. Kent State, 335

NIU Individuals
41. Emma Planck, 22:11.62
51. Julia Finegan, 22:27.05
72. Katelyn Robbins, 22:51.32
79. Joy Jackson, 23:10.01
95. Morgan Gioia, 25:09.79
96. Emma Vorpagel, 25:43.00
97. Carly Leonard, 25:49.13