Carbondale, Ill. ? Junior middle-distance runner Sarah Westrick (Livonia, Mich./Winston Churchill) claimed top-ten finishes in the 800 and 1,500 meter runs while Marcia Backstrom (Minonk, Ill./Fieldcrest) grabbed a 10th place finish in the 5,000 meters to pace the Braves at the season opening SIU Spring Classic hosted by Southern Illinois.
Westrick continued her strong track season by with an eight place run in the 800, clocking 2:25.36 and earning a ninth place in 4:47 in the 1,500 meters as she cemented her spot as the top mid-distance runner for the Braves.
Backstrom made a similar claim to the distance races as she brought home the third top-ten finish for the Braves with a time of 18:28 in the 5,000 meters. The run eclipses Backstrom's top time from 04-05 by more than a minute.
Other notable performances were turned in by members of the men's cross country team competing in one of the select outdoor meets in the men's 5,000. Sophomore Chris George (Normal, Ill./University) grabbed a sixth place finish while Nick Palumbo (McHenry, Ill./McHenry) nabbed a 10th place showing for the Braves. George clocked in at 15:24 while Palumbo recorded a time of 15:32.
The Braves will hit the track again next weekend when they travel to West Lafayette, Ind. for the Mike Poehlein Invitational
