UI packs a punch in 10K

SAVOY – Scott McClennan didn't need to see his teammates to know there were a whole bunch behind him.

"Once I got out there, I wasn't going to wait around for them," said the leader of the Illinois cross-country pack that dominated Friday's Illini Invitational. "But I knew they were right behind me.

"With people cheering, I can tell. I could hear them calling Mike's name and Jon's name through the whole race."

And don't forget Cortney and Charles.

Not on a first-name basis yet with the Illini? That could change if this keeps up: Five Illinois runners among the top eight finishers. Four Illinois runners – Jon Russell, Cortney Lamb, Charles Berckmann and Mike Lucchesi – separated by a mere 15 seconds in the 10-kilometer race at the UI Blue Golf Course.

"That was great execution," said coach Gary Wieneke, whose Illini won the seven-school meet by 13 points over a Lindenwood College squad that had the individual champion and runner-up. "A lot of people executed well."

McClennan set the Illini pace, finishing third in 31 minutes, 57.89 seconds. He was 21 seconds behind the Lindenwood duo of Sharif Karle and Sean Birren.

"They got away from me at 2K," the Illini junior said, "and I really shouldn't have let them go then because they kind of held the same distance through the middle kilometers. And then I might have lost them a little bit again toward the end."

No harm. Not with Russell and Co. creating an impenetrable Orange and Blue line that finished fifth through eighth. Russell led the pack, followed by Lamb, Berckmann and Lucchesi.

It was a dramatic turnaround for the Illini, who finished a disappointing fourth in the five-team Illinois State Open two weeks ago in their season opener.

"We have had excellent practices, and we've executed some things in practice," Wieneke said. "I think they needed to see this convert to a race, and it did.

"What that does is build confidence that practices are important. It builds confidence for the next race."

The Illini won't have to wait long for that. They travel next Saturday to Carbondale for the Saluki Invitational.

In women's cross-country:

UI's Mendozza third. That's 2 for 2 for Tara Mendozza. Two races. Two times leading the Illini across the finish line.

Not bad for a runner whose main claim to UI fame has been in the middle distances in track.

"I'm learning to enjoy it a little more each time," the Illinois junior said after finishing third in the Illini Invitational.

"It's always more fun when you're running well," UI coach Michelle Byrne said. "She's running with a lot of confidence right now. ... She's still pretty raw in terms of running well over cross-country, and I think she's learning every time she steps out. But definitely, two great races."

Mendozza, who was second overall two weeks ago in the Illinois State Open, finished Friday's 5-kilometer race in 18:17.53. She was 11 seconds behind winner Stacia Beste of Illinois State.

With three runners in the top 16, Illinois placed fourth in the 10-team standings with 92 points. Purdue won with 75 points.

Illinois returns to action Oct. 9 in the Purdue Invitational.

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