Sept. 30, 2001

Chicago, Ill. - With UIC Head Coach Jim Knoedel resting most of his top runners for Friday's Notre Dame Invitational, the UIC men's and women's cross country team still managed a strong showing at the 2001 Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational hosted by Loyola.

The men's team entered five competitors and finished 10th out of the 11 Division I teams competing in the event. The women's team, meanwhile, was represented by senior Monieka Thompson, who was the Flames' lone runner in the race on Saturday..

Senior Russ Riberto was first to cross for the men's squad in the 8K race, finishing 101st in 27:00. Rookie Whitney Burns was next in the 378-man race, placing 170th in a time of 27:56. Senior John Simon (218th/28:38), sophomore Tristan Roche (259th/29:11) and freshman Darryl Gras (306th/30:30) also ran in the elite race for UIC.

Thompson finished in the top 180 for the women, placing 179th in a time of 20:54 in the 5K race.

Both the men's and women's cross-country teams will be back in action on Friday, Oct. 5,as the Flames compete at the Notre Dame Invitational.