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Redbird Runners Finish Second at Intercollegiate Championships
Sept. 19, 2008 NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois and Illinois State finished first and second in both the women's and men's championship races on Friday, sweeping the titles at the Illinois Intercollegiate Championships at Weibring Golf Club at Illinois State University. Illinois' Kristin Sutherland was the top women's finisher and Rend Lake's Steven Sambu won the men's race. Sophomore Kirsten Lang was the top Illinois State finisher, crossing the line in eighth place, and junior Scott Krapf finished fourth for the Redbirds in the men's race. "We were hoping to place in the top-two coming in on both sides, and certainly with a number of quality programs we had to run well in order to do that," Illinois State head coach Jeff Bovee said. "The men's race was really, really close. Illinois won by 10 and it was close up front. I was really pleased with how the men ran." In the women's race, Sutherland closed the gap on Rend Lake's Lalain Lagat, who led the race for much of the early going, and earned top individual honors with a 17:47 finish. Illinois earned its second-consecutive Illinois Intercollegiate Championship by placing four of its five scoring runners in the top-10 and has won four of the last five women's championship races dating back to 1976.
Lang crossed the line first for the Redbirds at the 18:43 mark and was followed by a pack of her teammates. Kathleen Thompson, Olivia Myers, Jess Husted and Aisha Praught rounded out the scoring times for Illinois State, finishing as the first four of six-consecutive Redbirds to cross the line in the No. 13 through No. 19 positions. "Kirsten Lang went from a walk-on last year to being our top-runner," Bovee said. "She's really coming into her own. She has worked real hard, been consistent and done all the things that you hoped she would do." Illinois State's Natalie Scatena and Kim Ebbesen were the last two Redbirds to finish in the top-20 but didn't count in the team's top-five. "The strength of our team is that we have so much depth," Bovee said. "We have more depth than most teams in our region and conference, something we have to use to our advantage. I thought (Natalie) Scatena had one of her best races as a Redbird. I've felt it coming on good in practices. She didn't have a great race at the Illini Challenge but she bounced back with a good race. Our biggest challenge is to continue to develop some of our front runners. That will be a big difference maker for us as the season progresses." In the men's race, Rend Lake's Steven Sambu took the individual title but all five scoring runners for the Illini crossed the line in the top-15 to give Illinois the team title. Illinois earned its 12th team title at the Illinois Intercollegiate Championships and has won back-to-back titles after taking last year's race. Krapf was the top men's finisher for Illinois State after he crossed the line in 24:44 and edged out teammate Matt Mroczynski. Mroczynski finished fifth but was second after two miles and led the race at the 5K mark before Sambu and Illinois' Jeremy Stevens made their late push. Mike Richardson, Jon Roberts, and Rich Eber finished the race in the top-25, with Eber contributing the second race of his career to the team total. "I was really pleased with Rich," Bovee said. "He's a just a freshman, who's off to a good start to his career as a Redbird. I thought Jon Roberts had a break through race. He's been really fit at times during his career, but he ran a smart, controlled, patient race and it paid off for him. This is going to be a springboard for him. Confidence is important for him and this will be big boost." Krapf, Mroczynski and Richardson made their first appearances of the season after skipping the Illini Challenge. Bovee noted the difference the trio make to his lineup. "They all put forth a solid effort," Bovee said. "They'll continue to improve as the season goes along, but the team runs as a cohesive unit when those guys are in the lineup - not only by their performance, but in how they lead the team." Illinois State returns to action on Friday, Sept. 27, when both teams travel to Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., for the Brissman-Luden Invitational at the Sauki Golf Course.
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