RIVER FOREST, ILL. -- For the first time in 20 years, the Concordia University Chicago Cougars hosted a cross country meet. In a shining season opener, Ariel Martinez (Berwyn, Ill.) and Tegan Oas (Shingle Springs, Calif.) placed top among Cougars to highlight their senior event. 

Senior Recognition
For the first time since 2004, the Cougars hosted a home meet in which they were able to honor their senior athletes with recognition for their hardwork and dedication to the cross country program. Martinez and Oas, as the two lone seniors, were recognized and honored post-race after stellar first outings for the year.


RUN-Down of the Run
Martinez placed highest of all Cougars, finishing the race in 13th place with a time of 21:04.1. Every Cougar that finished after Martinez secured a new personal record. Oas finished closely behind Martinez in 19th place with time of 24.40.06. Lydia Anderson (Carpentersville, Ill.) finished next for the Cougars with a personal best time of 23:55.1. The trio of Breanna Walters (Poplar Grove, Ill.), Sarah Redhage (Lowden, Iowa), and Addi McKee (Knoxville, Ill.) finished consecutively with best times of 24:31.6, 24.33.4, and 24:40.6, respectively. 


What Coach Allgood Had to Say
"There was a better showing of team running than any other meet I've coached at Concordia on both sides," Head Coach Malachi Allgood noted. "That goes to show that the team doesn't just talk about it, they ARE about it. It was a phenomenal experience to break a streak of not hosting that was older than some of our key members, and it was a blessing to celebrate our senior ladies Ariel and Tegan in their first (and last) home meet". 

The Cougars take a week hiatus from competition and will be back in action on September 14th as they head up to their rival of the North, Concordia University Wisconsin, for the Ken Weidt Classic. Information and coverage for this meet can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.