SAVOY, Ill. – Amelie Ojeda (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) led the way for the Northern Illinois University cross country team with a top-20 finish on Thursday (Aug. 29) as the Huskies opened the season at the Fighting Illini Open on the Orange and Blue Golf Course. 

"We are a very young team," said NIU head coach Juan Carillo. "I was happy with how our athletes raced today. For some of them, this race performance tells me that they are in shape of their personal bests from high school. I feel good with where we are now, fitness wise, and we will continue to build from here."

Ojeda ran a four-kilometer time of 14:16.1 in her collegiate debut to claim the top spot among NIU runners and finish 20th overall. 

All five runners for NIU were competing in a collegiate race for the first time, four of whom are true freshmen. Ariel Hernandez (Rock Falls, Ill./Rock Falls) was second for the Huskies with a time of 14:49.7, 38th overall. Isabella Grieder (Groveland, Ill./Morton) also earned a top-50 spot, running 15:25.0. 

Varri Higgins (Bethesda, Md./Chevy Chase), the only returnee for the Huskies, although she did not compete last season, clocked in at 15:48.1 to take 54th while Liliana Camargo (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville) was 58th in 16:19.8.

Bradley's Kaitlyn Sheppard won the individual title in a time of 13:08.00, helping lead the Braves to the team title with a score of 28. 

Up next for NIU will be its lone home meet of the season, the Huskie Classic, on Friday, Sept. 5. The four-kilometer women's race at the Huskie Classic is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. on the North 40 Course on campus in DeKalb, located just east of Barsema Hall and the Engineering Building. 

Team Standings
1. Bradley, 28
2. Indiana State, 61
3. Illinois, 74
4. Illinois State, 97
5. UIC, 133
6. Southern Illinois, 176
7. NIU, 179

NIU Individuals
20. Amelie Ojeda, 14:16.1
38. Ariel Hernandez, 14:49.7
48. Isabella Grieder, 15:25.0
54. Varri Higgins, 15:48.1
58. Liliana Camargo, 16:19.8