Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Missouri X-Country Challenge
Women's Cross Country Grabs Third At First Meet
09/06/2003 | 12:00:00 | Cross Country
Sept. 6, 2003
By Josh Magill
www.SIUSalukis.com
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Southern Illinois University women's cross country team showed its talent Saturday morning as the Salukis finished third at the 11th annual Missouri Cross Country Challenge.
The host, Missouri, pulled out the win as they took six of the top eight spots and finished with a total of 18 points. Illinois finished with 47 points to finish second, and grabbed four of the top twelve spots.
SIU fielded seven freshmen on its roster for the event, as returnees Noa Beitler (senior) and Ty-Nica Davis (sophomore) sat out due to a long 2003 track season. Leading the way on Saturday were Sarah Rinker (Pontiac, Ill.) finishing 13th with a time of 19:14.37, local product Lindsay Wagner (Mt. Vernon, Ill.) finishing 14th with a time of 19:18.75 and Brittani Christensen (Belvidere, Ill.) running in 19:22.10 to finish 15th.
Cherylynn Schilling (17th), Katie Birn (21st), Brittany Whitelock (34th) and Megan Binney (37th) all finished with times below twenty-two minutes in the field of forty-seven to help the Salukis to a 79 point finish. Southeast Missouri State (93) and Bradley (134) rounded out the event finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.
SIU will return to the cross-country trail when it travels to Charleston, Ill. for the Eastern Illinois Panther Open on Sept. 19. Results can be found at www.SIUSalukis.com.
