Northwestern's track team is set to compete at the Chicagoland Championships this Friday in Elmhurst, Ill., following a strong start to the outdoor season. The Wildcats will participate in several events, including the 5,000m run, 3,000m steeplechase, and 1,500m run. Currently, Northwestern holds the second spot in the national 10,000m Event Squad Rankings, thanks to impressive recent performances, including a program record by Ava Criniti. Other standout athletes, such as Cary Drake and Olivia Capala, are also making their mark in various events. Next week, the team plans to split for competitions in California and Indiana.

By the Numbers
  • Ava Criniti's 10,000m time of 33:19.10 ranks 21st in the NCAA West Region.
  • Cary Drake's personal-best 5,000m run time of 16:30.35 is the eighth fastest in program history.
  • Olivia Capala set a program record for the outdoor 800m with a time of 2:11.69.
Yes, But

While the Wildcats are currently ranked high nationally, they face strong competition at the upcoming Championships and the splits in their squad could impact overall performance.

State of Play
  • Northwestern's track team is fresh off strong performances at the Raleigh Relays.
  • The team is currently focused on maintaining momentum as they split for competitions in two different states next week.
What's Next

Following the Chicagoland Championships, Northwestern will send athletes to both the Bryan Clay Invitational and the Gibson Invitational, providing further opportunities for athletes to qualify for regionals and improve their times.

Bottom Line

With consistent performances, Northwestern's track team aims to capitalize on their current momentum at the Chicagoland Championships and beyond, seeking to secure strong placements in upcoming regional competitions.