Ojeda Leads NIU at MAC Championships

AMHERST, N.Y. – Amelie Ojeda (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) completed within the top-35 because the Northern Illinois University girls’s cross nation staff competed within the Mid-American Conference Championships on Saturday (Nov. 1) on the Audubon Golf Course. 

Toledo gained its fifth consecutive staff title as Karina James led the best way for the Rockets taking the person crown. NIU completed thirteenth within the staff standings. 

“I’m proud of the team, they fought the whole way,” stated NIU head coach Juan Carrillo. “Unfortunately, we had to deal with sickness and some injuries at the most important time of the year, which is this week. The effort was there, and we just have to get healthy for regionals in two weeks.”

Ojeda paced the Huskies for the fifth meet this season as she ran a time of 21:46.3 over the six-kilometer course to complete thirty third general. 

“She’s one of the ones who was sick the whole week,” stated Carrillo. “She was only able to run yesterday and Thursday, some easy runs. So, to come here and do what she did, she ran her second-best time today, she’s a warrior, a fighter and I’m proud of her.”

Ariel Hernandez (Rock Falls, Ill./Rock Falls) was the second Huskie to complete in 23:06.8. Claire Helmila (Greenville, Wis./Freedom) crossed the road in 23:21.1, Liliana Camargo (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville) completed in 23:54.2 and Varri Higgins (Bethedsda, Md./Chevy Chase) ran a time of 24:03.1.

“Nothing happens overnight in this sport,” stated Carrillo. “It is a year of development, for next year, they are going to be the leaders of the team. We have got to get healthy this week before regionals. They are running faster than what they did in high school through the three miles, five-kilometer mark, that’s a huge positive. As long as they know they are getting better, we will take that.”

NIU will now flip its consideration towards the NCAA Midwest Regional on Friday, Nov. 14, in Stillwater, Okla. 

Team Standings

1. Toledo, 32

2. Ohio, 62

3. Bowling Green, 67

4. Central Michigan, 164

5. Miami, 171

6. Western Michigan, 174

7. UMass, 187

8. Buffalo, 207

9. Akron, 226

10. Eastern Michigan, 296

11. Ball State, 298

12. Kent State, 325

13. NIU, 338

NIU Individuals

33. Amelie Ojeda, 21:46.3

84. Ariel Hernandez, 23:06.8

90. Claire Helmila, 23:21.1

98. Liliana Camargo, 23:54.2

99. Varri Higgins, 24:03.1