DEKALB, Ill. – Amelie Ojeda (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) finished fourth as the Northern Illinois University cross country team competed at home on the North 40 Course in the Huskie Classic on Friday evening (Sept. 5). Three Huskies finished in the top-20 overall as NIU claimed a fourth-place team finish. 

"We looked a little tired today, which is to be expected with all of the training that we are doing," said NIU head coach Juan Carrillo. "Since the team has been on campus, we haven't rested, either for last week's meet or this one, so I expected to run on tired legs. Even still, they are running times that are pretty close to their high school PR's this early in the season, and they ran those times in high school in November, so that is a good sign for our fitness."

After leading the Huskies a week ago at the Fighting Illini Open, Ojeda was once again the top finishing Huskie, running 18:39.52 over the five-kilometer course on the North 40. Ariel Hernandez (Rock Falls, Ill./Rock Falls) was the second Huskie to finish, running 19:11.94 to claim 13th overall. Claire Helmila (Greenville, Wis./Freedom) finished 17th overall with a time of 19:33.42.

Liliana Camargo (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville) ran a time of 20:30.60 while Varri Higgins (Bethesda, Md./Chevy Chase) finished in 21:24.44.

DePaul's Tessa Roe won the individual title with a time of 17:55.26 while the Blue Demons also earned the title team with a score of 20 points. 

NIU will return to action at the end of the month as the Huskies travel to the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Mo., on Friday, Sept. 26. 


Team Standings
1. DePaul, 20
2. Western Illinois, 58
3. UIC, 77
4. NIU, 83
5. Chicago State, 129

NIU Individuals
4. Amelie Ojeda, 18:39.52
13. Ariel Hernandez, 19:11.94
17. Claire Helmila, 19:33.42
29. Liliana Camargo, 20:30.60
36. Varri Higgins, 21:24.44