Wildcats Set for Orange & Blue Open

2/18/2016 2:20:00 PM | Women's Cross Country & Track

By: Preston Michelson

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Northwestern wraps up its indoor track regular season on Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Orange & Blue Open hosted by Illinois, beginning at 12 p.m. Wildcats will be running in the 3,000m race, 800m race, and mile race at the UI Armory.

"I hope to see a few personal bests across the events," said head coach 'A Havahla Haynes. "We have had four weeks of nearly uninterrupted training, which is great for the overall trajectory of the program."

FOLLOW ALONG
Live stats will be available for the Orange & Blue Open.

THE WHO AND THE WHAT
The mile, 3,000m race, and 800m race will proceed in that order. Elena Barham, Allison Jacobsen, Grace Kelly, Ashley Ko, Andrea Ostenso, Brooke Pigneri, Hannah Rose, Ellen Schmitz and Isabel Seidel are running in the 3,000m race, Victoria Bianco is in the 800m event and Sara Coffey and Jena Pianin are entered into the mile competition.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Last time out, Elena Barham improved on her 3,000m time by almost twenty seconds, finishing the race at the Meyo Invitational in 9:52.50.

Jena Pianin paced the 'Cats in the 800m race, clocking a third-place 2:18.52 at the Windy City Rumble. She will be racing in the mile competition this time around.

After missing the fall cross country slate, Andrea Ostenso returned true to form and picked up a second-place finish in the mile run, finishing in a second-place 5:09.35. The 'Cats picked up four top-ten finishes in the mile at the Windy City Rumble.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The 'Cats have some time off after Saturday's races. The NCAA Indoor Championships are March 11 and 12, taking place in Birmingham, Alabama.

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