Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, April 17
Terre Haute, Ind.
5 p.m. CT
Northwestern
at
Gibson Invitational
Photo by: Kailey Zagst/Northwestern Athletics
‘Cats Set For Bryan Clay Invitational, Gibson Invitational On Friday
4/16/2026 6:20:00 PM | Women's Cross Country & Track
Northwestern to split squad in penultimate weekend of regular season schedule
EVANSTON, Ill. (April 16, 2026) – After setting two new program records in its last outing, Northwestern track will split its squad on Friday to compete in a pair of meets. The 'Cats are set to see action at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif. and the Gibson Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind.
Olivia Capala will begin the Wildcats' stay at the Bryan Clay Invitational, widely recognized as one of the nation's top distance meets, just after 6:15 p.m. CT in the invite section of the 800m run. Northwestern will be well-represented in the 5,000m run later in the evening at Azusa Pacific University's Cougar Athletic Stadium, with Ava Criniti, Skye Ellis, Anna Hightower, Jackie Holman, and Maddy Whitman all slated to compete. FloTrack will provide full coverage of Friday's action.
The 3,000m steeplechase pairing of Cary Drake and Mallory Grubb will get the evening started at 5 p.m. CT for Northwestern at the Gibson Invitational, which will be hosted at Indiana State University's Gibson Track & Field Complex. Much like in California, the 5,000m run will feature a host of 'Cats, a group that includes Samree Dishon, Ava Earl, Katherine Klimek, Allegra Massey, Marley McCullough, Mia Mraz, Lydia Sommer, and Kailey Zagst.
Ellis is coming off a dominant performance at the Chicagoland Championships last Friday in Elmhurst, Ill. The Jan Juc, Australia product shattered her own school record in the 1,500m run, placing first overall with a time of 4:17.24 that ranks 23rd in the NCAA West Region. Hightower (2nd; 4:23.19) and Holman (4th; 4:24.77) also earned top-five finishes to climb inside the top five all-time at Northwestern in the event.
Making her 3,000m steeplechase debut, Drake skyrocketed to the top of the program record board as she won the event in 10:29.96, a time that sits sixth in the Big Ten Conference. Grubb turned in an impressive showing of her own, running a personal-best 10:43.74, the third-fastest time in program history.
Competing in the 5,000m run, Zagst notched her second collegiate victory, finishing atop the leaderboard with a time of 16:59.83.
Northwestern closes out the regular season portion of its outdoor track schedule at the Badger Challenge in Madison, Wis. on Friday, May 1.
Olivia Capala will begin the Wildcats' stay at the Bryan Clay Invitational, widely recognized as one of the nation's top distance meets, just after 6:15 p.m. CT in the invite section of the 800m run. Northwestern will be well-represented in the 5,000m run later in the evening at Azusa Pacific University's Cougar Athletic Stadium, with Ava Criniti, Skye Ellis, Anna Hightower, Jackie Holman, and Maddy Whitman all slated to compete. FloTrack will provide full coverage of Friday's action.
The 3,000m steeplechase pairing of Cary Drake and Mallory Grubb will get the evening started at 5 p.m. CT for Northwestern at the Gibson Invitational, which will be hosted at Indiana State University's Gibson Track & Field Complex. Much like in California, the 5,000m run will feature a host of 'Cats, a group that includes Samree Dishon, Ava Earl, Katherine Klimek, Allegra Massey, Marley McCullough, Mia Mraz, Lydia Sommer, and Kailey Zagst.
Ellis is coming off a dominant performance at the Chicagoland Championships last Friday in Elmhurst, Ill. The Jan Juc, Australia product shattered her own school record in the 1,500m run, placing first overall with a time of 4:17.24 that ranks 23rd in the NCAA West Region. Hightower (2nd; 4:23.19) and Holman (4th; 4:24.77) also earned top-five finishes to climb inside the top five all-time at Northwestern in the event.
Making her 3,000m steeplechase debut, Drake skyrocketed to the top of the program record board as she won the event in 10:29.96, a time that sits sixth in the Big Ten Conference. Grubb turned in an impressive showing of her own, running a personal-best 10:43.74, the third-fastest time in program history.
Competing in the 5,000m run, Zagst notched her second collegiate victory, finishing atop the leaderboard with a time of 16:59.83.
Northwestern closes out the regular season portion of its outdoor track schedule at the Badger Challenge in Madison, Wis. on Friday, May 1.
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
/ 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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