Sept. 28, 2006

EVANSTON, Ill. -- After a weekend off, the Wildcats will take a short trip to the Montrose Avenue Beach Saturday for the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational hosted by Loyola University. The 'Cats have posted two wins in 2006.

Junior Celia Franklin (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) has led the Wildcats in both their wins. She placed first at the Chuck Carroll Invitational to start the season and finished sixth to lead the 'Cats to victory at the Toledo Invitational. Freshmen have made an immediate impact for coach Tush's squad. Illinois natives Paulina Garcia (Streamwood, Ill./Streamwood) and Britta Helwig (Chicago, Ill./Luther North) have made solid contributions. Sophomores Allison King (Potomac, Md./Winston Churchill) and Hilary Forman (Praierie Village, Kan./Pembroke) each have two top-10 finishes.

Northwestern and the other 18 teams in women's collegiate gold division take to the course Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Lakefront Invitational features 69 colleges, 52 high schools and 16 elementary school squads in ten different races, making it one of the largest cross country meets in the nation. It starts with a 2000-meter elementary school meet at 8 a.m. and ends with the women's collegiate race at 1 p.m.

For more information on the Lakefront Invitational visit The Loyola Rambers' Homepage

Teams competing in the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational:
Alabama
Chicago State
Creighton
Edinboro
Grand Valley State
UIC
Illinois State
Loyola
Malone
Marquette
Marshall
Nebraska Wesleyan
Northwestern
Southern Illinois
Southwest Baptist
University of Chicago
University of Western Ontario
UW-Milwaukee
Western Illinois