Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, May 1
Madison, Wis.
4:05 p.m. CT
Northwestern
at
Badger Challenge
Photo by: Kailey Zagst/Northwestern Athletics
‘Cats Head North Friday For Badger Challenge
4/30/2026 6:00:00 PM | Women's Cross Country & Track
Northwestern set for final meet ahead of postseason competition
EVANSTON, Ill. (April 30, 2026) – Northwestern track returns to action Friday evening as it makes final preparations for the postseason at the Badger Challenge in Madison, Wis.
The 'Cats will begin their stay at the University of Wisconsin's McClimon Track & Soccer Complex at 4:05 p.m. CT with action in the 3,000m steeplechase, with athletes also slated to compete in the 800m run, 1,500m run, and 5,000m run over the course of the evening. A link to live results can be accessed above.
Northwestern enters the final weekend of its regular season schedule with multiple athletes battling for position on the Big Ten Conference and NCAA West Region leaderboards.
In the Wildcats' last outing, Anna Hightower rocketed up to second all-time on the program's 5,000m record board after clocking a time of 15:46.72 as part of a stacked field at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif. Hightower's time, a 36-second personal best, ranks ninth in the Big Ten and sits 30th regionally.
Jackie Holman (16:01.09) and Ava Criniti (16:08.68) joined Hightower in setting new 5,000m personal bests, efforts that rank 13th and 15th, respectively, in the conference.
Also seeing action in the Golden State, Olivia Capala added another chapter to her breakout first-year campaign by posting a time of 2:09.99 to break her own program record in the 800m run.
Competing at the Gibson Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind., Cary Drake picked up her second consecutive victory in the 3,000m steeplechase. Drake, who currently ranks 48th regionally in the event, came through in 10:35.42. Mia Mraz was also victorious at the meet, cruising to a first-place finish in the 5,000m run with a time of 16:56.16.
Northwestern begins its outdoor postseason slate at the Big Ten Conference Outdoor Championships, May 15-17, in Lincoln, Neb.
The 'Cats will begin their stay at the University of Wisconsin's McClimon Track & Soccer Complex at 4:05 p.m. CT with action in the 3,000m steeplechase, with athletes also slated to compete in the 800m run, 1,500m run, and 5,000m run over the course of the evening. A link to live results can be accessed above.
Northwestern enters the final weekend of its regular season schedule with multiple athletes battling for position on the Big Ten Conference and NCAA West Region leaderboards.
In the Wildcats' last outing, Anna Hightower rocketed up to second all-time on the program's 5,000m record board after clocking a time of 15:46.72 as part of a stacked field at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif. Hightower's time, a 36-second personal best, ranks ninth in the Big Ten and sits 30th regionally.
Jackie Holman (16:01.09) and Ava Criniti (16:08.68) joined Hightower in setting new 5,000m personal bests, efforts that rank 13th and 15th, respectively, in the conference.
Also seeing action in the Golden State, Olivia Capala added another chapter to her breakout first-year campaign by posting a time of 2:09.99 to break her own program record in the 800m run.
Competing at the Gibson Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind., Cary Drake picked up her second consecutive victory in the 3,000m steeplechase. Drake, who currently ranks 48th regionally in the event, came through in 10:35.42. Mia Mraz was also victorious at the meet, cruising to a first-place finish in the 5,000m run with a time of 16:56.16.
Northwestern begins its outdoor postseason slate at the Big Ten Conference Outdoor Championships, May 15-17, in Lincoln, Neb.
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
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