Fifty-seven athletes from eight schools competed in the women’s 8th annual Prairie Star Invitational on the campus of the University of Illinois at Springfield on Friday, September 8. The Blackburn College women’s team raced six athletes and took 7th place in the overall team standings. Host, UIS, Heartland CC, and Purdue Northwest took first, second, and third, respectively. Quincy also participated but was 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 and Junior, Olivia Leemon, was once again the top finisher for Blackburn, finishing the course in 24:33, which lowered her mile pace from last week by forty-eight seconds. Freshman Kailynn Kruep again finished second for Blackburn, followed closely by fellow Freshman Gracie Jent and Ashanti Jones. Kreup lowered her mile pace by fifty-eight seconds. At the same time, Jent and Jones reduced their mile pace by almost two minutes and a minute, respectively! Sophomore Sarah Olson and Freshman Ella Wilson finished fifth and sixth for Blackburn. Olson also had a strong performance, cutting just over a minute off her mile pace time. In addition, Wilson finished and completed her second race of the season. 

The Women’s Cross Country team is set for their next two weeks, Friday, September 22, when they travel to Lebanon, Illinois, to compete at the McKendree Bearcat Classic.