North Central traveling to Rock Island to run in the Brissman / Lundeen Invitational. Time to lace up for the course the conference race will be ran on. Dianne Barajas and Alexis Henz ready to lead the Cardinals charge against conference foes like Wheaton and Carroll. NCC ranked 7th in the Midwest rankings.
Cardinals embarking on the 6k race… and in the third block at the starting line. The course at the Saukie Golf Course consists of two 3k loops
Half a mile in and the field is strung out and a lead pack is becoming defined, including North Central’s senior Barajas.
A secondary group of Cardinals flocking just a feather or two behind.
Mile in and Barajas near the top – she just recently finished second at Loyola, a race with multiple division one teams.
Jenna Yakesh just a little ways back, followed by a pair of Cardinals, including Jenna Fiore.
Alright! Midway through the race and Natalie Sarris from U of I’s club team is in first – followed by three U of Chicago athletes and Dianne Barajas. Yakesh cruising along just a little ways back, after placing 18th overall at Loyola. Alexis Henz and Fiore continuing a strong pace, sitting in the mid 30s followed by Nikki Rong
We’re three quarters of the way through and Yakesh has narrowed the gap on Barajas, who unfortunately would exit the race shortly hereafter.
Henz running third among North Central runners
To the finish line and there’s your winner – Sarris from U of I
Maggie Boudreau from Chicago is second
Here comes the mob… and one of the early ones – Jenna Yakesh with a time of 22.48 – good for 7th in the field
Nikki Rong, the freshman, comes across in a time of 23:44… second best on NCC and 33rd in the field
Alexis Henz comes in 34 with a mark of 23:48, and Jenna Fiore crosses in 23:52. Overall, the Cardinls place 6th… out of 18 teams… and that’s without their top runner, Barajas, finishing the race.
