Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational Awaits Husker Runners

Lincoln- The Nebraska men's and women's cross country teams will compete in the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational in Chicago, Ill., this Saturday, Oct. 4. The meet, hosted by the University of Chicago, features the Women's Collegiate 5,000-meter race at 11:15 a.m., followed by the Men's Collegiate 8,000-meter race at Noon.

The Huskers look forward to the size of this weekend's meet after competing in last weekend's Roy Griak Invitational, which featured more than 240 individual runners in each of the men's and women's races.

"It should be a meet that allows us to run as a team," said NU Head Coach Jay Dirksen. "With fewer runners (compared to last weekend), it should be easier to know where your teammates are and to run as a team."

The NU women will compete in their first race as a ranked team, after moving into the Sept. 29 FinishLynx Cross Country Poll at No. 30 following their impressive performance at the Roy Griak Ivitational. Eight Husker women will make the trip north to compete this weekend. Seniors Ann Gaffigan and Kathryn Handrup, juniors Anne Shadle and Kayte Tranel, sophomore Michaela Lenihan, redshirt freshmen Lindsey Finkner and Kim Pancoast and freshman Farah Jadran will test the 5,000-meter course for NU.

Sixteen other teams will be competing in the Women's Collegiate division. Bradley, Chicago State, Creighton, DePaul, Illinois State, Marquette, Marshall, Northwestern, Purude, Southeast Missouri State, Illinois-Chicago, Universal Sole (club team), Valparaiso, Western Illinois, Wisconsin and Wisconsin-Milwuakee will all race on Saturday. Wisconsin (16th) and Marquette (28th) are the only other ranked teams besides Nebraska competing at the invitational.

The 5,000-meter race presents a different challenge for Nebraska this weekend, following two consecutive 6,000-meter races. Dirksen thinks running the shorter distance can benefit Nebraska.

"I think it will be good for us," Dirksen said. "It should force us to run a little faster at the start."

On the men's side, Nebraska will send seven runners to the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational. Running for the Huskers this weekend will be seniors Dana Carne and Paul Wilson, junior Tim Williams, sophomore Eric Dall and freshmen Bryce Dickmeyer, Mike Dorazil and Alec Maduza. Eighteen other teams will compete against NU in the Men's Collegiate race. Those teams are Bradley, Chicago State, Colgate, Creighton, Dayton, DePaul, Illinois State, Marquette "B", Marshall, Northwestern, Purude, Southeast Missouri State, Illinois-Chicago, Toledo, Universal Sole/Adidas (club team), Valparaiso, Western Illinois and Wisconsin-Milwuakee.

Dirksen is looking for a good race from both teams.

"I'm looking for our men to continue to show improvement and run better, and for our women to continue to run like they have up until this point in the season," Dirksen said.

Following the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational, the Huskers will have a week off before returning to competition Saturday, Oct. 18, for the Division I Pre-National Meet in Waterloo, Iowa.