Panther Cross Country Heads To Illini Challenge

Men are coming off second-place showing at Valpo

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Sept. 13, 2006) - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's and women's cross country teams return to action this weekend at the Illini Challenge, Friday (Sept. 15) in Champaign, Ill.

Hosted by the University of Illinois, the first race kicks off at 5 p.m.

Both Panther squads opened their 2006 season last weekend at the Valparaiso Invitational. The men took second place behind only Notre Dame, while the women placed fifth.

Freshman Malachi Cate led the men's team by taking first place at the meet, while Milwaukee's remaining four scoring runners all placed in the top-20. Cate ran a time of 19:24 on the 6000m course for the win. Sophomore Holly Nearman was the top women's finisher, taking 13th overall.

Cate was honored by the league office following his first collegiate race. He was named this week's Horizon League Athlete of the Week.

Milwaukee is in action next at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational, Sept. 30, in Chicago, Ill. The first race starts at 11:45 a.m.