SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Northern Illinois University women's cross country team earned a sixth-place finish on Friday (Oct. 2) in the gold race at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational. Amelie Ojeda (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) recorded a top 20 finish individually as the Huskies earned the top spot among Horizon League programs competing in the event. 

"We accomplished the goal that we set for this race, which was to come here and finish top seven," said NIU head coach Juan Carrillo. "We finished sixth place as a team, and we also beat Oakland, who was ranked (second) in the (Horizon League) preseason polls. We also beat Purdue Fort Wayne who was ranked (third), so it was a good day as a team, we accomplished our goals."

Ojeda ran a time of 17:41.90 on the five-kilometer course, the fourth-best 5K time in program history, to finish 16th. Sarah Maggio (Aurora, Ill./Metea Valley) ran 18:13.61 with Ella Spencer (Wiltshire, England) just two seconds behind at 18:15.65. Also scoring for the Huskies were Emerson Fabry (Pulaski, Wis./Pulaski) with a time of 18:37.04 and Claire Helmila (Greenville, Wis./Freedom) who finished in 18:41.51.

"The person who raced the best today was freshman Emerson Fabry," said Carrillo. "Looking at the splits, she passed the most runners throughout the race, she ran very smart. Ella Spencer, also a freshman, stepped up with a big PR. Our freshmen are stepping up big time, and we have a few more workouts coming up that are going to prepare us for (the Horizon League Championship)."

NIU's sixth-place finish was one spot ahead of new league rivals Purdue Fort Wayne (seventh) and two ahead of Oakland (seventh). The Huskies also finished just behind Central Michigan (fourth) and Eastern Michigan (fifth). 

"A year ago, two, three years ago, when I got here, we were not even there to say we could compete against Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan in the same race," said Carrillo. "So for us to be in the same race and be able to see those results, I think it shows how much progress we made from last year to this year."

Up next for the Huskies will be a trip to Peoria, Ill., for the Bradley Pink Classic on Friday, Oct. 16, before heading to the Horizon League Championship in Clinton, Pa., on Saturday, Oct. 31. 


Team Standings (Top 10 of 24)
1. Toledo, 71
2. Chicago, 108
3. Windsor, 129
4. Central Michigan, 154
5. Eastern Michigan, 186
6. NIU, 269
7. Purdue Fort Wayne, 292
8. Oakland, 302
9. UIC, 315
10. Western Ontario, 324

NIU Individuals
16. Amelie Ojeda, 17:41.90
42. Sarah Maggio, 18:13.61
43. Ella Spencer, 18:15.65
82. Emerson Fabry, 18:37.04
94. Claire Helmila, 18:41.51
140. Sofia Pena, 19:13.46
155. Ariel Hernandez, 19:22.61
207. Isabella Grieder, 21:09.32