EVANSTON, Ill. -- Following a three-week hiatus, the Northwestern Women's Cross Country squad is back for two meets on Saturday. Two runners will compete at the USA Track and Field Cross Country Championships in Bend, Ore., while five others head to South Bend, Ind. for the Meyo Invitational.
Freshmen Aubrey Roberts and Kelly O'Brien will compete for the USATF Cross Country Championship in a field of 37 competitors for the chance to make the National team. In Roberts' last appearance, she finished in the Top 50 of the nation's elite at the NCAA Championships after leading the team on five occasions throughout the fall season. Teammate Kelly O'Brien joins her with two impressive performances to start.
The goal of this race according to Head Coach 'A Havahla Haynes will be to "Race controlled and do the work necessary to be a top-six finisher. Both Aubrey and Kelly are in good shape and have had some of their best workouts since stepping foot on campus. If they trust their fitness they could make a USA team." The young runners will have the opportunity to improve and challenge themselves on the Oregon terrain competing in the Junior Women's 6K race at the Rivers Edge Golf Course at 12:10pm PST.
In South Bend, the Wildcats will face 39 women's teams in a massive indoor meet at Loftus Sports Center hosted by Notre Dame. In this contest, Assistant Coach Austin Brobst is hoping that the runners have a chance to both learn and compete to their fullest potential. "Their goal is to gain experience and race tactics while putting themselves in a position to win their heat."
Junior Isabel Seidel, coming off of a 3K win at the Illini Classic, will run with Freshman Sarah Nicholson in the Women's 3000 meter run in a field of 22 at 2:20pm CST. In addition, Junior Sara Coffey will compete for the coveted Meyo Mile title against an elite field at 1:25pm CST. Live results can be found here.
