CHAMPAIGN, ILL. -- Freshman Olivia Pratt turned in a sparkling debut to highlight the performance of the Butler men's and women's cross country teams at the Illini Challenge on Friday (Aug. 31).  Butler's women placed second and Butler's men finished fourth in the eight-team meet.

Pratt, running in her first collegiate meet, paced the 65-runner women's field at the UI Arboretum, winning the 4K race with a time of 14:18.  She finished 29 seconds ahead of runner-up Alyvia Clark of team champ Loyola.

Butler senior Kaitlyn Love came in fifth overall with a time of 14:55, while senior Lauren McKillop finished 10th in 15:11.  Junior Alyson Fosnot wound up 13th in 15:14, sophomore Erica Carlson came in 26th in 15:49, freshman Stephanie Hanagan finished 40th in 16:16 and freshman Christina McKnight placed 42nd in 16:43.

Sophomore Kodi Mullins led Butler in the men's 6K race with a time of 19:04, good for 11th place.  Junior Billy Klimczak paced a pack of Butler runners with a 19th place finish in 19:35, while freshman Keigan Culler came in 20th (19:36) and freshman Christopher Kelsey wound up 21st (19:38).  Freshman Sage Kosiorek finished 23rd in 19:43 and sophomore Jahi Gains came in 43rd in 20:57.

Illinois won the men's competition, while Loyola finished second and Lewis third.

Butler head coach Matt Roe held several of his top men's and women's runners out of the season-opening competition.