Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, September 30
Columbia, Mo.
Northwestern
at
Gans Creek Classic
Wildcats Post Strong Showing At Gans Creek Classic
10/1/2022 9:26:00 AM | Women's Cross Country & Track
COLUMBIA, Missouri - Three Wildcats raced into the Top-8 at the 2022 Gans Creek Classic, hosted by the University of Missouri, leading Northwestern to a third-place result in the 24-team field. As a result of the strong effort, head coach Jill Miller's squad climbed one spot to No. 3 in the USTFCCA Midwest Region rankings this week.
RESULTS: 2022 Gans Creek Classic
In a field loaded with Midwest Region contenders looking for a preview of the course that will host the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship in November, the 'Cats pushed the pace through the middle of the race, with Kalea Bartolotto, Rachel McCardell and Ari Marks 1-2-3 at the 4K split, but in a pack of 20 runners all separated by just five seconds.
At the conclusion, McCardell paced Northwestern in third-place (20:36.6), while Marks crossed the line in seventh (20:38.5) narrowly edging out Bartolotto in eighth (20:38.8) to make NU the only team in the field with three finishers in the Top-8. Sophomores Anna Hightower (20th; 20:58.5) and Katherine Hessler (25th; 21:04.0) rounded out the scoring for the Wildcats who claimed third-place, just eight points back of the top spot on the leaderboard.
"Collectively this was a solid day for our group, especially since we know we can be better," Miller said after the race. "It was a breakout performance for Anna Hightower, and it was great to see Kalea Bartolotto up front racing with confidence. The team ran tough and this type of momentum leaves them excited to get back to training hard for the next three weeks before we begin championship season."
A split-squad group also ran at the 43rd edition of the Loyola Lakefront Invitational, a true Chicagoland celebration of the sport that includes elementary, middle and high school races in addition to the collegiate main event. Senior Liz Bulat led the way for Northwestern with a 22:13 time on the 6K course at Montrose Harbor, followed by classmate Hannah Hall (22:50) and sophomore Fiona Lenth (22:57).
RESULTS: 2022 Loyola Lakefront Classic
The 'Cats have one more competition on the schedule before the postseason, the Bradley Pink Classic on October 14 in Peoria. The 2022 Big Ten Championships are scheduled for October 28 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
RESULTS: 2022 Gans Creek Classic
In a field loaded with Midwest Region contenders looking for a preview of the course that will host the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship in November, the 'Cats pushed the pace through the middle of the race, with Kalea Bartolotto, Rachel McCardell and Ari Marks 1-2-3 at the 4K split, but in a pack of 20 runners all separated by just five seconds.
At the conclusion, McCardell paced Northwestern in third-place (20:36.6), while Marks crossed the line in seventh (20:38.5) narrowly edging out Bartolotto in eighth (20:38.8) to make NU the only team in the field with three finishers in the Top-8. Sophomores Anna Hightower (20th; 20:58.5) and Katherine Hessler (25th; 21:04.0) rounded out the scoring for the Wildcats who claimed third-place, just eight points back of the top spot on the leaderboard.
"Collectively this was a solid day for our group, especially since we know we can be better," Miller said after the race. "It was a breakout performance for Anna Hightower, and it was great to see Kalea Bartolotto up front racing with confidence. The team ran tough and this type of momentum leaves them excited to get back to training hard for the next three weeks before we begin championship season."
A split-squad group also ran at the 43rd edition of the Loyola Lakefront Invitational, a true Chicagoland celebration of the sport that includes elementary, middle and high school races in addition to the collegiate main event. Senior Liz Bulat led the way for Northwestern with a 22:13 time on the 6K course at Montrose Harbor, followed by classmate Hannah Hall (22:50) and sophomore Fiona Lenth (22:57).
RESULTS: 2022 Loyola Lakefront Classic
The 'Cats have one more competition on the schedule before the postseason, the Bradley Pink Classic on October 14 in Peoria. The 2022 Big Ten Championships are scheduled for October 28 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
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