All-state runner Michelle Mehnert heads toward the finish line during the Twin City Championship Meet at Illini Meadows, which the Uni girls won for the fourth consecutive year. Mehnert, a senior, won the meet's individual title for the second time in a row. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

URBANA — Michelle Mehnert, Elaine Gu, and Elizabeth Russell swept the top three spots today at the Twin City Championship Meet as the Illineks won their fourth consecutive title as best girls cross country team in Champaign-Urbana.

Mehnert took home the trophy as the meet's individual winner for the second straight year. In 2006 she won with a time of 20 minutes, 29 seconds. This year, in severely hot conditions that led several girls to drop out because of cramping and soreness, the senior all-state runner covered the 3-mile Illini Meadows course in 20:27.

Gu, a junior, placed second with a time of 21:09, followed by sophomore Russell at 21:15.

The Illineks needed the 1-2-3 finish today because they were missing two of their top five runners. Senior Jennifer Roloff didn't participate at all due to soreness in her feet, while Shivani Khanna, also a senior, began the race but cramped up and couldn't finish.

In place of Khanna and Roloff, Uni's fourth and fifth scoring runners were Katherine Allen in 16th place (25:40) and fellow sophomore Isaure Hostetter in 17th (25:41). The only other Uni girl to finish the race was sophomore Brittany Scheid, who placed 23rd (27:15).

Yet even without Khanna and Roloff, the Illineks won the title with 39 points, just 7 points behind their total for last year's meet when they had a full squad.

Urbana placed second with 45 points, followed by St. Thomas More (72), Centennial (97), Champaign Central (116), and Judah Christian (141).

The girls will compete Saturday at the Woodruff Invitational in Peoria. The race will take place at Detweiller Park, the site of the IHSA state finals.

From left, junior Elaine Gu, sophomore Elizabeth Russell, and senior Shivani Khanna stay together in the early stages of the Twin City Championship Meet. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

Sophomores Isaure Hostetter, far left, and Katherine Allen would provide the Uni girls with the points they needed to win a fourth straight Twin City title. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

2007 GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY VARSITY RESULTS

Aug. 28: Kickapoo Kickoff Classic (3 miles)

• Story: Mehnert leads Illineks to Kickoff Classic title
• Team finish: 1st place, 27 points (out of six scoring teams)
• Uni No. 1: Michelle Mehnert, 1st (20:56) (top seven runners listed)
• Uni No. 2: Elaine Gu, 5th (21:47)
• Uni No. 3: Shivani Khanna, 6th (22:05)
• Uni No. 4: Elizabeth Russell, 8th (23:06)
• Uni No. 5: Jennifer Roloff, 9th (23:28)
• Uni No. 6: Isaure Hostetter, 23rd (25:17)
• Uni No. 7: Katherine Allen, 24th (25:19)

Sept. 1: Chrisman Cow Chip Classic (3 miles)

• Story: Illineks dominate their class at Cow Chip Meet
• Team finish: 2nd place, 18 points (out of 10 scoring teams)
• Flight No. 1: Michelle Mehnert, 2nd, 19:58 (named meet's top senior)
• Flight No. 2: Elaine Gu, 3rd, 20:35
• Flight No. 3: Shivani Khanna, 2nd, 21:06
• Flight No. 4: Elizabeth Russell, 2nd, 20:47 (named meet's top sophomore)
• Flight No. 5: Jennifer Roloff, 3rd, 23:28
• Flight No. 6: Isaure Hostetter, 4th, 24:34
• Flight No. 7: Katherine Allen, 2nd, 23:50
• Open: Samantha Nguyen, 7th, 24:21

Sept. 4: Twin City Championship Meet (3 miles)

• Story: see above
• Team finish: 1st place, 39 points (out of six scoring teams)
• Uni No. 1: Michelle Mehnert, 1st (20:27) (six Uni runners finished)
• Uni No. 2: Elaine Gu, 2nd (21:09)
• Uni No. 3: Elizabeth Russell, 3rd (21:15)
• Uni No. 4: Katherine Allen, 16th (25:40)
• Uni No. 5: Isaure Hostetter, 17th (25:41)
• Uni No. 6: Brittany Scheid, 23rd (27:15)

Next meet: Peoria Woodruff Invitational, Sept. 8, Detweiller Park (directions); first race to begin at 9 a.m.