Sept. 1, 2006

Chicago, Ill.- The UIC cross country team opens the 2006 campaign this Saturday, as UIC head coach Jim Knoedel and his Flames host the 10th annual UIC Home Opener at Horsetail Lake in Palos Park, Ill.

The event begins with the women's two-mile race at 10:00 a.m., immediately followed by the men's 4.1-mile trek.

The UIC Home Opener will feature men's and women's squads from the host Flames, Horizon League rivals Loyola and UW-Green Bay and local rivals DePaul, Chicago State and St. Xavier.

On the men's side, the Flames return six of their top seven runners from a 2005 season that saw UIC take third at the Horizon League Championships and an impressive 10th place finish at the NCAA Midwest Regionals.

All-Horizon Leaguer Joseph Mbari will lead a squad featuring seniors Jim Sulzberger and Sam Watson and a loaded UIC roster with high hopes this season.

For the UIC women's cross country team, senior Laura Macias will seek a repeat of her All-Horizon League First Team finish last year while leading a Flames squad ready to build off its fourth-place finish at the league meet in 2005.

Senior standouts Lisa Petty and Susana Martinez also return to pace UIC.

Knoedel knows that the Home Opener will help set the stage for a meeting between two league rivals later in the season.

"It will be a good test between UIC and Loyola in both races, letting us know the preparation needed going into the Horizon League meet in October,' said Knoedel.

DIRECTIONS TO HORSETAIL LAKE FOR THE UIC HOME OPENER

Horsetail Lake is located just North of the corner of W 123rd St/McCarthy Road and S 104th Ave in Palos Park, Ill.

To get to the race, take La Grange Road/Route 45 to 123rd St/McCarthy Road. Go West on 123rd St/McCarthy Road to the first stoplight, which will be 104th Avenue. Go North (Right) on 104th Avenue and the entrance to Horsetail Lake will be immediately on your right (East side of 104th Avenue).

Parking is available at Horsetail Lake or along the shoulder of 104th Avenue.