Photo by: Rey Del Rio/Northwestern Athletics
No. 26 Northwestern Treks South Friday For Loyola Lakefront Invitational
10/2/2025 9:30:00 AM | Women's Cross Country & Track
‘Cats have swept team, individual titles at first two meets of 2025 season
EVANSTON, Ill. (October 2, 2025) – No. 26 Northwestern cross country looks to continue its red-hot start to the 2025 season on Friday morning, as it heads south down Lake Shore Drive to compete at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational in Chicago, Ill.
Set to be contested just south of Montrose Harbor at the Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course, the meet will begin with action in the women's 6k championship race at 9 a.m. CT. A select group of Wildcats will also compete in the women's 6k open race at 10:20 a.m. CT. Live results can be accessed at the link above.
Currently sitting at No. 26 in the latest United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Coaches' Poll, Northwestern is set to feature as part of a stacked field that includes eight nationally-ranked sides. The group is highlighted by No. 2 North Carolina State, in addition to Big Ten Conference rivals No. 11 Washington, No. 21 Wisconsin, and No. 29 Minnesota.
The 'Cats will be returning to action for the first time since September 12, when Northwestern rolled to the team title at the Big Ten Preview in East Lansing, Mich., besting No. 17 Michigan State by 71 points for the top spot in the team standings.
Ava Earl picked up the second individual victory of her collegiate cross country career, claiming individual medalist honors in 20:14.5. Earl led a group of four Wildcats to finish inside the top five, a quartet that also included Anna Hightower (2nd; 20:16.0), Ava Criniti (4th; 20:19.9), and Holly Smith (5th; 20:20.6).
Northwestern returns to action on Friday, October 17 at the prestigious Nuttycombe Invitational in Madison, Wis.
Set to be contested just south of Montrose Harbor at the Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course, the meet will begin with action in the women's 6k championship race at 9 a.m. CT. A select group of Wildcats will also compete in the women's 6k open race at 10:20 a.m. CT. Live results can be accessed at the link above.
Currently sitting at No. 26 in the latest United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Coaches' Poll, Northwestern is set to feature as part of a stacked field that includes eight nationally-ranked sides. The group is highlighted by No. 2 North Carolina State, in addition to Big Ten Conference rivals No. 11 Washington, No. 21 Wisconsin, and No. 29 Minnesota.
The 'Cats will be returning to action for the first time since September 12, when Northwestern rolled to the team title at the Big Ten Preview in East Lansing, Mich., besting No. 17 Michigan State by 71 points for the top spot in the team standings.
Ava Earl picked up the second individual victory of her collegiate cross country career, claiming individual medalist honors in 20:14.5. Earl led a group of four Wildcats to finish inside the top five, a quartet that also included Anna Hightower (2nd; 20:16.0), Ava Criniti (4th; 20:19.9), and Holly Smith (5th; 20:20.6).
Northwestern returns to action on Friday, October 17 at the prestigious Nuttycombe Invitational in Madison, Wis.
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