JACKSONVILLE, IL – The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) women's cross country runner Hannah Roberts claimed ninth place during Saturday's Illinois College Invitational.
 
Roberts had to overcome the challenge of competing in a more spread-out field. The race consisted of 19 individuals.
 
"It can be a little tough mentally to go to a meet with a small group, since when we have a full roster at a meet it is 30 athletes," UIS cross country coach Mike Dewitt said.
 
Roberts raced to a 6K time of 29 minutes, 16.2 seconds. The sophomore from Springfield, IL average a time of 7:50.8 per mile.
 
"Hannah did a great job of setting her goal to earn a top-10 finish, running controlled early and then finishing the second half by closing out the race fending off runners."
 
Quincy University compiled a perfect score of 15 to take first place. NCAA Division III schools Illinois College (47) and MacMurray College (64) captured second and third, respectively.
 
Quincy's Megan McClure charged to a time of 24:38.3 to place first.
 
UIS battles in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Championships next Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in Kirksville, MO.