CHAMPAIGN – Sammy Williams would appreciate it if you called her daughter by her given first name.

"My mom likes it when people call me Cecelia, and I like it, too," the Illinois freshman said.

Senior Scott McClennan took first as the Illinois men's cross-country team opened the season Saturday against the UI alumni.

CHAMPAIGN – It probably should come as no surprise that middle-distance runners generally aren't too crazy about cross-country.

After all, which sounds more appealing: running 800 or 1,500 meters on an even track or logging 5,000 meters over some hilly countryside?

CARBONDALE – Junior Scott McClennan took fifth place to pace the Illinois men's cross-country team to third Saturday at the Saluki Invitational.

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.

It's your lone opportunity to catch the Illini cross-country teams at home this fall.

It's Illinois' first opportunity to run against schools outside its district (the folks at the NCAA call this cross-referencing; helps them figure out who deserves at-large bids for the national meet).

CHAMPAIGN – By Dennis Rodman's kaleidoscopic standards, Scott McClennan's hair color was about as exotic as vanilla.

But to the University of Illinois cross-country runner, a dye job gone haywire last fall was reason to furtively slap a cap on his head and keep it there every waking hour.

CHAMPAIGN – Michelle Byrne will have to look elsewhere. The logical leader of her pack has dropped out of the running.