AMHERST, N.Y. – Amelie Ojeda (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) finished in the top-35 as the Northern Illinois University women's cross country team competed in the Mid-American Conference Championships on Saturday (Nov. 1) on the Audubon Golf Course. 

Toledo won its fifth consecutive team title as Karina James led the way for the Rockets taking the individual crown. NIU finished 13th in the team standings. 

"I'm proud of the team, they fought the whole way," said NIU head coach Juan Carrillo. "Unfortunately, we had to deal with sickness and some injuries at the most important time of the year, which is this week. The effort was there, and we just have to get healthy for regionals in two weeks."

Ojeda paced the Huskies for the fifth meet this season as she ran a time of 21:46.3 over the six-kilometer course to finish 33rd overall. 

"She's one of the ones who was sick the whole week," said Carrillo. "She was only able to run yesterday and Thursday, some easy runs. So, to come here and do what she did, she ran her second-best time today, she's a warrior, a fighter and I'm proud of her."

Ariel Hernandez (Rock Falls, Ill./Rock Falls) was the second Huskie to finish in 23:06.8. Claire Helmila (Greenville, Wis./Freedom) crossed the line in 23:21.1, Liliana Camargo (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville) finished in 23:54.2 and Varri Higgins (Bethedsda, Md./Chevy Chase) ran a time of 24:03.1.

"Nothing happens overnight in this sport," said Carrillo. "It is a year of development, for next year, they are going to be the leaders of the team. We have got to get healthy this week before regionals. They are running faster than what they did in high school through the three miles, five-kilometer mark, that's a huge positive. As long as they know they are getting better, we will take that."

NIU will now turn its attention toward the NCAA Midwest Regional on Friday, Nov. 14, in Stillwater, Okla. 

Team Standings
1. Toledo, 32
2. Ohio, 62
3. Bowling Green, 67
4. Central Michigan, 164
5. Miami, 171
6. Western Michigan, 174
7. UMass, 187
8. Buffalo, 207
9. Akron, 226
10. Eastern Michigan, 296
11. Ball State, 298
12. Kent State, 325
13. NIU, 338

NIU Individuals
33. Amelie Ojeda, 21:46.3
84. Ariel Hernandez, 23:06.8
90. Claire Helmila, 23:21.1
98. Liliana Camargo, 23:54.2
99. Varri Higgins, 24:03.1