Forty athletes from six schools competed in the women’s 7th annual Prairie Star Invitational on the campus of the University of Illinois at Springfield on Friday, September 9. The Blackburn College women’s team raced six athletes and took fourth place in the overall team standings. Purdue Northwest, host UIS, and Mineral Area College took first, second, and third, respectively. Illinois College and St. Charles CC also participated but were unable to qualify for the team standings.

Even though the race distance increased to five kilometers from last week’s season-opener four kilometers, all six Blackburn athletes lowered their mile pace on Friday in impressive fashion. Team captain, Olivia Leemon, was once again the top finisher for Blackburn, finishing the course in 25:58, which lowered her mile pace from last week by forty-five seconds. Liz Morris finished second for Blackburn, followed closely by Keeleigh Pilcher and Nicky Valverde. The trio lowered their mile pace by thirty-five seconds, fifty-three seconds, and twenty-six seconds, respectively. Freshmen Michaela Moulton and Sarah Olson finished fifth and sixth for Blackburn, and while both improved their mile pace, Moulton did so dramatically by shaving off over two minutes per mile!

Coach Al Sturgeon said, “I am so proud of our women’s team! Everyone on our women’s team is working hard and already seeing progress. None of our six runners at Springfield were seniors, and the combination of youth, hard work, and tremendous character combine to bode well for the future of the women’s program.”

The team will participate in the Beaverthon 5k during Homecoming Weekend on September 24, but the next official meet is not until the Border War XC Championships at Principia on Friday, October 7.