Rock Island, Ill. - Illinois Tech cross country wrapped up their regular season competition schedule this past Saturday, when the team competed in the Augustana Interregional Invitational.

The meet featured several top teams from around the region, allowing the team to use the meet as a benchmark as they prepare for the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Championship, taking place Saturday, November 2nd in Geneva, Illinois.

The Scarlet Hawks were able to come away from the meet with several runners recording personal bests, as the team tries to reach peak performance heading into the conference championships.

• Junior Sophia Halama, set a personal best and finished in the top 20 in the Women's Blue 6k. Halama finished with a time of 24:12.7, moving her into the top 10 in the women's 6k school record book. 
• Junior Rachel Brettin set a personal best with a time of 27:08.3 in the Women's Blue 6k.
• First-year Gabriel Durazo established a new personal best with a time of 27:36.70 in the Men's Gold 8k.
• Senior Alejandro Torres came away with a new personal best time of 28:03.7 in the Men's Gold 8k.
• Junior Lane Regan set a new personal best with a time of 28:26.4 in the Men's Gold 8k.

"I am happy with the growth we have had in our regular season" said Head Coach Tyler McQuality. "Heading into championship season, we are aiming and expecting to run at our best these last two races at Conference and Regionals. The team has worked so hard and I am so proud of them. We talk all year about growth and continuing to push this program forward and they have responded very well to what us coaches are asking of them and we look forward to seeing that all come to fruition."

The team has a week for final preparations for the conference meet on November 2nd. The Hawks will use some of that time by hosting a "home turf" time trial event at the Dunbar Park Track located at the southeast corner of Indiana and 29th street at 7pm on Friday, October 25th. The team is looking to "pack the track" for the event, while also recognizing their departing seniors as part of a Senior Night celebration.

Up Next
The Scarlet Hawks will compete in the NACC Conference Championship at the Northwestern Medicine Cross Country Course in Geneva, Illinois, on Saturday, November 2nd. The women's competition will start at 11:00am, followed by the men's competition at 12:30pm.