CHICAGO – Chicago State women's cross country team opened its 2010 season at the UIC Season Opener, held at Horsetail Lake in Palos Hills, Ill., on Sept. 4. The Cougars competed against Horizon League schools in the host Flames, Milwaukee and Green Bay in addition to Saint Xavier.
CSU was led by freshman Jennifer Sanford (Hammond, IN/Morton) (Hammond, Ind.), who finished 30th in her first-ever collegiate meet with a personal-best record time 13:52.1 over the two-mile course, while junior Jasmine Walker (Capitol Heights, MD/Essex CC) (Capitol Heights, Md.) placed 35th in the race at a PR time of 14:26.5.
Junior Markesia Taylor (Chicago, IL/Sullivan) (Chicago, Ill.) posted a personal-best time on the course after she crossed the finish line with a time of 15:00.8 which was good for a 37th-place finish.
“This season has definitely become a huge step in the right direction. CSU finished its four runners in under 16 minutes,” stated CSU assistant coach Steve Powenski.
Rounding out the Cougar contingent in the meet were freshman Brionna Middlebrooks (South Holland, IL/Thornwood) (South Holland, Ill.) and junior Lanesha Sutton (Lansing, IL/Thornwood) (Lansing, Ill.). Middlebrooks finished 38th with a PR time of 15:40.5.
“We are personally proud of the dedication and effort to improve from these young ladies, CSU head coach Diana Muhammad said.
Chicago State returns to action this Saturday as it heads to DeKalb, Ill., for the Northern Illinois Huskie Open beginning at 12:15 p.m.
~CSU~
