Northwestern University Athletics
Saturday, January 17
Naperville, Ill.
10:30 a.m. CT
Northwestern
at
Pat Heenan Invitational
Photo by: Jamie Mitchell
Hightower Paces Impressive 3,000m Run Showing For ‘Cats At UW Preview
1/17/2026 7:30:00 PM | Women's Cross Country & Track
Four Wildcats place inside top 12 in the event
SEATTLE, Wash. (January 17, 2026) – Anna Hightower surged to an overall runner-up finish to highlight a quartet of strong 3,000m run efforts for Northwestern track this afternoon at the UW Preview in Seattle, Wash.
Fresh off running a 20-second personal best in her indoor debut back in December, Hightower picked up right where she left off today at the University of Washington's Dempsey Indoor Facility. The Arnhem, Netherlands native clocked in with a time of 9:11.34 to place second overall in the premier heat of the event.
Competing alongside Hightower in the 3,000m run, the trio of Ava Criniti, Maddy Whitman, and Jackie Holman climbed into the top 10 on the program's all-time indoor record board in the event.
Criniti clocked a 24-second personal best, crossing in 9:22.95 to finish in 10th place and climb to eighth all-time at Northwestern. Whitman took nearly 34 seconds off her previous top time, as she ascended to ninth in Wildcat annals after finishing just thousandths of a second back of Criniti in 11th (9:22.95). Holman trailed less than a second behind, running a 28-second personal-best 9:23.30 to claim 12th and move to 10th all-time.
Gallery: (1-17-2026) Track at UW Preview
Northwestern was also represented closer to home at North Central College's Pat Heenan Invitational in suburban Naperville, Ill. The 'Cats turned in a dominant effort in the mile run, placing seven runners inside the top 10.
Leading the attack on the individual front was Cary Drake, who brought home the event title with a time of 4:54.45. Mia Mraz used a near 20-second personal best to take third in 4:56.47, while Kailey Zagst (4th; 5:02.87) and Allegra Massey (5th; 5:07.12) clocked new personal bests of their own to round out the top five.
Northwestern is back in action in just under two weeks, January 30-31, at the Meyo Invitational in South Bend, Ind.
Fresh off running a 20-second personal best in her indoor debut back in December, Hightower picked up right where she left off today at the University of Washington's Dempsey Indoor Facility. The Arnhem, Netherlands native clocked in with a time of 9:11.34 to place second overall in the premier heat of the event.
Competing alongside Hightower in the 3,000m run, the trio of Ava Criniti, Maddy Whitman, and Jackie Holman climbed into the top 10 on the program's all-time indoor record board in the event.
Criniti clocked a 24-second personal best, crossing in 9:22.95 to finish in 10th place and climb to eighth all-time at Northwestern. Whitman took nearly 34 seconds off her previous top time, as she ascended to ninth in Wildcat annals after finishing just thousandths of a second back of Criniti in 11th (9:22.95). Holman trailed less than a second behind, running a 28-second personal-best 9:23.30 to claim 12th and move to 10th all-time.
Northwestern was also represented closer to home at North Central College's Pat Heenan Invitational in suburban Naperville, Ill. The 'Cats turned in a dominant effort in the mile run, placing seven runners inside the top 10.
Leading the attack on the individual front was Cary Drake, who brought home the event title with a time of 4:54.45. Mia Mraz used a near 20-second personal best to take third in 4:56.47, while Kailey Zagst (4th; 5:02.87) and Allegra Massey (5th; 5:07.12) clocked new personal bests of their own to round out the top five.
Northwestern is back in action in just under two weeks, January 30-31, at the Meyo Invitational in South Bend, Ind.
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
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
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