Runners who will not compete in the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship next week have one last opportunity at competition Friday at the NIU North 40 in the Huskie Open.

NIU has its regional lineup set, including its top seven finishers from their MAC Championship meet. Senior Alexis Capps, freshman Rachel Shoemaker and sophomore Hannah Savage will run the 6K race.

This is a final opportunity for the trio of Huskies to compete during the 2013 season.

“This is one last chance to end their season on a positive note,” said head coach Greg Hipp. “And [they] get to compete at home and [have] a chance to compete at the end of the season, when their fitness should be at its best.”

Hipp, who organized the event for the second straight season, feels it is a benefit to women who may not have been able to compete as much during the year.

“The reason for us creating this event was to give those outside of our top seven an additional opportunity to compete,” Hipp said. “For someone who did not even run the MAC meet, like Alexis [Capps], her season would have been over in the middle of October, so this just allows someone who is more developmental the opportunity to get a full season in.”

Hipp said the younger Shoemaker and Savage can also take some positives from competing in the Huskie Open.

“We feel like it is the best interest in the program to provide the opportunity for the kids who are still trying to develop,” Hipp said. “They get to compete a longer season, so hopefully it can help them get better and become more significant contributors to the team in the future.”

Bradley, Northwestern, Mount Mary University, Augustana College and Chicago State will compete alongside NIU.

The even starts at 4:30 at the NIU North 40 course.