TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The men and women’s cross country teams from NAU defeated the fields at the 2001 Indiana State Invite while Lumberjack freshman-transfer Ida Nillsson (Arkansas-Little Rock) won the women’s six-kilometer race, setting a new Bird-Gibson course record in 21 minutes, 1.1 seconds. Nillsson defeated the record set last year by NAU senior Kendra Versendaal (22:19.90), who did not compete in this year’s meet due to injury.

“Ida really opened it up,” said NAU head coach Ron Mann. “We were very pleased with most of the performances we saw out here today. Both teams got wins and we got done what needed to as far as filling holes in the roster.”

On the men’s side sophomore Henrik Ahnstrom led the men to victory, running the eight-kilometer course in 24:19.90. The men’s team scored 30 points with the second, fifth, sixth, seventh and 10th-place finishers.

Susie Rutherford was the third-place finisher overall on the women’s side while sophomore Jinny Hanifan finished third for the Jacks in 10th. The NAU women scored 42 points overall finishing ahead of Purdue (69), Ball State (87) and Arkansas-Little Rock (127).

NAU comes home to prepare for the Pre-NCAA meet Oct. 13. The Pre-NCAAs are a preamble to the NCAA Championships which are ran on the NCAA championship course, this year in Greenville, S.C. Selected athletes will also compete in the ASU Invitational Friday, Oct. 5, in Tempe.

Women’s Team Scores

1. Northern Arizona 42 2. Purdue 69 3. Ball State 87 4. Arkansas-Little Rock 127 5. Central Michigan 145

Men's team scores

1. Northern Arizona 30 2. Eastern Michigan 47 3. Ohio State 107 4. Central Michigan 113 5. Eastern Illinois 151

Men’s Individual -1. Boaz Chreboiywo, EMU, 23:38.20 2. Henrik Ahnstrom, NAU, 24:19.90 3. Gavin Thompson, EMU, 24:31.40 4. Jason Bialka, EIU, 24:34.50 5. Travis Laird, NAU, 24:36.80 6. Bruno Mazzotta, NAU, 24:39.20 7. Juwan Nuvayokva, NAU, 24:41.40 8. Richard Bauer, CMU, 24:45.40 9. Ryan Des Grange, EMU, 24:47.70 10. Tyler Williams, NAU, 24:52.60.

Other NAU finishers - 30. Seth Watkins, 25:23.20 57. Shaun Martin, 26:05.20 58. Tyler Beckley, 26:05.60

Women’s Individual - 1. Ida Nillsson, NAU, 21:01.10 2. Priscella Hein, UNA, 21:05.80 3. Susie Rutherford, NAU, 21:14.90 4. Stacey Ritz, BSU, 21:21.50 5. Lindsay Zinn, PU, 21:22.60 6. Jessica Kuhr, WSU, 21:24.00 7. Brook Creed, CMU, 21:36.20 8. Katie Nowak, BSU, 21:40.90, 9. Kim Snyder, UP, 21:51.20 10. Jinny Hanifan, NAU, 21:52.10. Other NAU finishers - 16. Erika Edwards, 22:09.70 21. Jamie Herman, 22:29.20 44. Jodie Denike, 23:21.70 75. Jolene McMahon 24:11.90

Key- NAU=Northern Arizona, EMU=Eastern Michigan, EIU=Eastern Indiana, CMU=Central Michigan, UNA=Unattached, BSU=Ball State, PU=Purdue, WSU=Wright State.

*Top-five team scores