AU Hosts Successful Cross Country Meet

AURORA, Ill. September 16, 2005 - Aurora University Cross Country successfully hosted the Second Annual AU Spartan Cross Country Classic on Friday, Sept. 9, 2005. Men's and Women's Cross Country teams from throughout the Midwest journeyed to Oakhurst Forest Preserve on the East Side of Aurora for the meet.

In the women’s portion of the meet, AU finished in 8th place out of 14 teams qualifying (18 women’s teams participated in the meet) with 244 teams points.

"This was a good indicator for our women's team that we have improved from last year and we can again compete for the NIIC Championship," Head Cross Country Coach James Kluckhohn said. The Spartans were led by junior Fran Sikorski (Lombard, Ill./Driscoll Catholic) and freshman Kristen Renninger (Aurora, Ill./Aurora Christian). Sikorski finished in a team and Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference best, 28th place with a time of 26:16, while Renninger set an AU freshman meet record with a time of 26:32, good for 32nd place. Senior’s Jenn Garlinsky (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland), Cami Loving (Streator, Ill./Streator) and Jessie Gonzalez (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora) also placed for the Spartans. Garlinsky finished 64th with a time of 27:57, Loving finished 116th with a time of 30:51 and Gonzalez finished 129th with a time of 31:59.

On the men’s side, freshman Craig Mariano (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) was AU’s top finisher in 73rd place with a time of 31:13, while sophomore David Mathew (Aurora, Ill./Aurora Central Catholic) finished 74th with a time of 31:15. The men’s meet had 16 teams particpate.

Kluckhohn stated, "Our men's team showed that with the development of our young runners not racing today that we can compete very well in the NIIC again this season after 2nd place finishes the past two seasons."

Next action for the Spartan men's and women's cross country teams comes on Friday, Sept. 23, 2005, when they travel to the Brissman/Lundeen Invitational at Augustana College. Meet time is set for 5:00 p.m. for the women and 6:00 p.m. for the men.

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