Oct. 26, 2001

Chicago, Ill. - UIC will play host to the first championship of the 2001-02 season as the Horizon League Cross Country Championship invades Montrose Harbor on Saturday morning.

The event kicks off with the men's championship 8-kilometer race at 11:00 a.m., with the women's 5-kilometer race following at 12:00 p.m.

On the men's side, Butler will be looking to defend its title, but will have to hold off a powerful Loyola squad, which finished second at the 2000 championships. UIC, meanwhile, fell just six points shy of third place last season and will look for a top-tier finish this year.

The Bulldogs Martin Fedmowski, who placed second last year, is the top returning runner with teammate Brad Bennett and a slew of other competitors hot on his trail.

The Flames will be paced by senior Russ Riberto and junior Joe Marren, both of whom finished in the top 25 at last season's championship. Junior Rich Daubert has also run strong of late for UIC.

The Ramblers will try and make it a clean sweep on Saturday afternoon as they try and defend their women's cross country team title. Last year, Loyola held off both Butler and UW-Milwaukee for the crown.

Individually, the women's race should be very interesting as four of the top five finishers from last season are all back, including last years champion Jessica Kuhr of Wright State. One of those vying for the title this year is UIC sophomore Jenni Goebel. Goebel, the 2000 Conference Newcomer of the Year placed fifth last season and has finished in the top five in every race she has ran this year.

Goebel isn't the Flames' only chance at glory on Saturday, though, as rookie upstart Lizet Diaz should vie for Newcomer of the Year honors.