DEKALB, Ill. – Bailey Wilk (Huntley, Ill./Huntley) earned a top 10 finish to pace the Northern Illinois University cross country team as the Huskies opened their season on Friday evening (Sept. 6) in the NIU Huskie Opener on the North 40 Course. Wilk helped lead the Huskies to a fourth-place team finish, DePaul claimed the team title and Nina Amicon was the overall winner in 17:39.98

"Overall, we looked strong," said NIU head coach Juan Carrillo. "This isn't the type of course where you run PR's early in the season. Based on where our training is, we looked strong. Some people ran the race we expected, some people didn't, that's cross country. This early, not everyone is on their 'A' game, but we will take what we had today, move on and get better for the next one."

Wilk was the first Huskie to finish the five-kilometer course, recording a time of 18:57.59, to take eighth overall in her first race as a Huskie. 

"Bailey looked strong," said Carrillo. "For not having done any race pace, high-intensity work, she looked strong. She looked in control of her pace and her effort. Once we jump into the next phase of training, I think she will be even more prepared to handle the pace of a race."

Rachel Dietrich (Neenah, Wis./Neenah) recorded a 15th-place finish in her collegiate debut, running a time of 19:41.69. Camille Jackson (Ames, Iowa/Ames), who was also competing for the first time at NIU, also finished in the top 20 with a time of 19:52.98.

Each of the remaining four Huskies claimed spots in the top 30, with Emma Vorpagel (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) leading a group of three NIU runners that finished within eight seconds of each other. Vorpagel posted a time of 20:49.81, Carly Leonard (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Indiana University HS) finished in 20:50.27 and Olivia Southby (New South Wales, Australia/Therry Catholic) ran 20:57.74.

NIU will be back in action next Friday, Sept. 13, when the Huskies travel to Normal, Ill., to take part in Illinois State's Redbird Invite. 

Team Standings
1. DePaul, 29
2. Northwestern, 43
3. Western Illinois, 65
4. NIU, 88
5. McKendree, 145

NIU Individuals
8. Bailey Wilk, 18:57.59
15. Rachel Dietrich, 19:41.69
17. Camille Jackson, 19:52.98
26. Emma Vorpagel, 20:49.81
27. Carly Leonard, 20:50.27
28. Olivia Southby, 20:57.74
30. Morgan Gioia, 21:16.93