The Saint Louis University women’s cross country team cruised to a second place finish overall in this past Saturday’s Northern Illinois University Open. The men’s program claimed the team championship, coming out on top of six other schools. This was their first men’s team championship since 2005.
“This last weekend was a big weekend for our program,” Head Coach Jon Bell said.
This note-worthy start could not have come without a boost from senior Hilary Orf. Orf took the crown in the 5K, winning the event in record-breaking fashion.
“This was the first time she’s won a cross country event since high school,” Bell said. “That may sound like a long time, but in reality, it is very hard to win races in college… there is only one winner [in each race].”
Orf set a new school record in the 5K at the meet with time of 17:47, earning her the title of Atlantic 10 Conference Performer of the Week. The previous record mark, set by her last year, was 17:48.
Each and every cross-country course provides unique challenges. In order to attack the course, preparedness and adjustments need to be made. “Near the end of the race there was this huge hill, and we had to run it twice,” Orf said. “That was especially hard since we were so spent at that point.”
Naturally, it is always in the back of her mind to come out on top, but when asked about her intentions upon entering the meet, Orf said she planned on running her race and doing the best she could.
“Coach mapped out the first mile or so for me and from there I just went for it,” she said. This was a plan that worked well enough, indeed.
Goals for the near future include finishing in the top of the conference and, ideally, qualifying for nationals. “I know it’s wishful thinking, but I would love to go [that] far, especially since it’s my last year,” she said.
Bell and Orf will have to work seamlessly together if they hope to earn a trip to nationals. “To do that, she and I have to be on the same page in terms of communicating, her training and how she is feeling,” Bell said.
On the men’s side of things, freshmen Michael Scolarici and Tim Zellmer ran exceptionally well for their first collegiate race. Scolarici placed first in the 5-mile race at the NIU Open with a time of 26:44. This was the first time a Billiken has captured an individual title on the men’s side since the program was re-established in 1992.
Scolarici was tabbed A-10 Men’s Rookie of the Week for his speedy results.
The women’s performance has led them to rise one spot in the regional rankings, due to their well-rounded performance this past weekend.
The women claimed the No. 14 spot in this week’s U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Midwest Region ranking, their best ranking ever. They supplanted Bradley University in the process.
The Bills will venture to South Bend, Ind. on Friday, Sept. 16, where they will run at the esteemed National Catholic Invitational in hopes of climbing the poles even higher. Action gets underway at 3:15 p.m.
