Cross country began its season Saturday with a victory, when it headed to Palos Heights, Ill., for the UIC Opener.

This is cross country’s first win at a meet since the program was reopened close to 20 years ago, and might even be the first ever win for cross country.

The Huskies competed alongside against UIC, UW-Milwaukee and UW-Green Bay, among others. NIU improved on last season’s season-opening performance in which they finished last in the 2011 UIC Opener.

During the offseason, the Huskies worked harder and had a training program for everyone, rather than just working out on their own, said head coach Greg Hipp.

“During the offseason everyone worked harder than last year and came in more fit,” Hipp said. “The last coach allowed them to work on what they wanted to rather than have them have a training program like we do now. Some girls are running 80 miles a week to get in shape.”

NIU will feature five highly-touted newcomers on this year’s roster. Sophomore Juliane Totzke, and freshmen Ali Olson, Leah Raffety, Hannah Savage and Taylor Vinhal.

Senior Courtney Oldenburg earned her first career win, with a time of 11:24.90 on the two-mile course, to lead the Huskies to a first-through-fourth finish on the Horse Lake Trail.

In second and third were Olson and Raffety respectively, followed by sophomore Jamie Burr.

After winning its season opening meet, the team is encouraged and hopes to continue its success throughout the season.

“It was a pretty small meet, but it was pretty exciting to win because of it being the first meet of the season,” Oldenburg said. “Also, it is my first victory of my college career. Hopefully this win can help us produce similar results for the rest of the season and for NCAA tournament.”

The Huskies were picked to finish eighth in the MAC preseason poll, only finishing ahead of Buffalo, Kent State, Ball State and Bowling Green.