MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. – Following a week off of competition, the UIC cross country programs toed the line at the annual Roy Griak Invitational, hosted by the University of Minnesota. In a stacked field featuring a number of nationally ranked teams, the men's and women's programs each came in 19^th place.
 
Carlos Cabrera was the team's top finisher on the men's side, crossing the line in 25:37.7 to finish 48^th and earn 44 points for the Flames. Teresa Mejia was the women's top finisher, placing 82^nd (22:57.0) to claim 75 points.
 
"It was another race with a mixed bag of results," said head coach Ashley Lucas. "Carlos (Cabrera) had a stellar race and moved up really well throughout to earn a top-50 finish while running alongside All-Americans. Teresa (Mejia) and Taylor (Frommer) had great races on the women's side, bouncing back from disappointing races at IUPUI."
 
Dathan Maton was UIC's next finisher in the men's 8k race, posting a time of 26:29.5 to claim 114^th place (94 points). Taylor Frommer posted a similar result in the women's 6k, earning 106 points with a 124^th-place finish (23:34.6).
 
Joining the men in the scoring column was Mark Lemke, Drey Maton and Maxum Caesar. Lemke finished in 133^rd (26:46.2), Maton followed shortly behind with a time of 27:04.0 and Caesar posted a time of 27:04.4.
 
Cailyn Persinger (153^rd, 23:57.8), Jenna Boyle (164^th, 24:15.2) and Kate Wojcikiewicz (191^st, 24:46.3) rounded out the scoring on the women's side.
 
"We still haven't put all the pieces of the puzzle together yet, so we still have work to do but I'm proud of the team. If we would have come to this caliber of a meet a couple years ago, they would have been star struck and afraid. They toed the line with confidence and weren't afraid to mix it up with some nationally ranked teams. Now we get back to work for another loaded meet at Notre Dame."
 
The Flames will be back in action next Friday, October 1, competing at Notre Dame's Joe Piane Invitational.