PEORIA, Ill. – Competing for the first time in three weeks, all five runners in action for the Northern Illinois University women's cross country team recorded personal best times as the Huskies took part in the Bradley Pink Classic on the Newman Golf Course on Friday afternoon (Oct. 17). 

Amelie Ojeda (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) led the way for the Huskies with a 36th place finish in a time of 21:25.38. North Dakota State's Reagan Baesler won the individual title in 20:20.98. Bradley took the team title with NIU finishing 23rd.

"It was the best performance of the year for us," said NIU head coach Juan Carrillo. "We only had five athletes on the line, and all five of them ran personal bests, so it was a good day for us building momentum toward the MAC Championship."

Ojeda led the Huskies for the fourth time this season while each of NIU's other four runners finished within less than a minute of each other. 

"We didn't start together, two to five, each one of them has their own racing style, but they finished very close to each other, so that was good to see," said Carrillo. "Amelie went to the front, she looked good, competitive. There is more there for her, we are peaking at the right time."

Ariel Hernandez (Rock Falls, Ill./Rock Falls) was second for NIU in 23:09.49 and Claire Helmila (Greenville, Wis./Freedom) was third 23:24.59. Varri Higgins (Bethesda, Md./Chevy Chase) ran a time of 23:48.70 while Liliana Camargo (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville) finished in 23:52.06.

Carrillo was pleased to see the work that his team has put in since last competing on Sept. 26 paying off in the race today and now looks ahead toward championship season.  

"With the heavy training we have done the last three to four weeks, we are starting to see those adaptations take place," said Carrillo. "At this point, we have to focus on recovery, more rest and sharpening up for the MAC Championships in two weeks."

NIU will be back in action again on Saturday, Nov. 1, when the Huskies take part in the Mid-American Conference Championship, hosted by Buffalo in Amherst, N.Y. The six-kilometer women's race is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. CT.

NIU Individual Finishes
36. Amelie Ojeda, 21:25.38
148. Ariel Hernandez, 23:09.49
160. Claire Helmila, 23:24.59
182. Varri Higgins, 23:48.70
184. Liliana Camargo, 23:52.06

Team Standings
1. Bradley, 32
2. North Dakota State, 121
3. Missouri State, 159
4. Grand Valley State, 160
5. Xavier, 190
23. NIU, 595