O'Brien Leads Impressive Showing by ’Cats at Benedictine Invitational

4/6/2019 5:59:00 PM | Women's Cross Country & Track

LISLE, Ill. — Junior Kelly O'Brien won the 800 and 1,500 meter at the Benedictine Invitational Saturday, leading an impressive showing by the Northwestern cross country program.

Led by O'Brien's first-place time of 4:25.64, the Wildcats posted the four-fastest times in the 1,500. Senior Isabel Seidel finished second (4:35.40), first year Rachel McCardell was third (4:40.02) and first year Sielle Kearney finished fourth (4:42.70).

"Our goal coming into the meet was to win our respective races," head coach 'A Havahla Haynes said. "We were able to pick up quite a few victories in sections and Kelly had a great day with wins in both of her events. Our program has made significant strides on the track since we got here four years ago and I think we are only going to continue to get better."

Sophomore Amanda Davis also posted a top-10 finish in the 1,500, coming in eighth by crossing the finish line in 4:49.22.

O'Brien picked up her second win of the day in the 800 with a time of 2:16.78 to lead another Wildcats' sweep that saw junior Aubrey Roberts finish second (2:18.64) and McCardell third (2:18.87). Chicago's Big Ten Team recorded eight of the 16 fastest times in the event.

First year Sara McCoy finished ninth (2:23.57) and junior Sarah Nicholson came in 11th (2:24.19), while sophomore Hannah Hall (2:26.08), Davis (2:26.23) and Kearney (2:27.82) finished 11th, 13th and 16th, respectively.

The Wildcats also got a second-place finish in the 400 meter from first year Olivia Verbeke, who crossed the finish line in 1:01.69.

Northwestern finished fourth in the meet with 62 points despite competing in just three events.

The Wildcats will be back in action the weekend of April 18-20 at the Mt. Sac Relays (Torrence, Calif.) and Bryan Clay Invitational (Azusa, Calif.)