2024-25 Women's Cross Country & Track Roster
Hightower, Anna
Anna Hightower
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Arnhem, Netherlands
- Major:
- Biological Sciences
Bio
AWARDS AND HONORS:
2024-25: (Cross Country): Saw action in three cross country meets ... Placed 16th (21:43.1) at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational (10/4) ... Ran 21:16.6 (42nd) as the 'Cats took home the team crown at the Bradley Pink Classic (10/18) ... Turned in top 6k time of the year at the Big Ten Conference Championships (11/1), where she finished in 20:55.4 (95th). (Indoor): Kicked off indoor campaign with a personal-best 4:57.01 (44th) in the mile run at the UW Preview (1/18) ... Placed fourth (9:56.08) in the 3,000m run at the Midwest Classic (1/31-2/1). (Outdoor): Earned top-five finish in the 1,500m run at the Spartan Invitational (4/4), placing fourth in 4:29.66 ... Posted a 5,000m run season best of 16:24.56 (18th) at the prestigious Penn Relays (4/24) ... Closed campaign with a 1,500m run personal-best 4:27.87 (4th) at the Badger Challenge (5/2).
2023-24: (Cross Country): Did not compete. (Indoor): Earned runner-up finish in 3,000m run at Aurora Grand Prix (1/19), clocking in at 9:48.20 ... Posted personal-best 9:31.02 (72nd) in the event at David Hemery Valentine Invitational (2/9) ... Closed season by placing second (5:00.64) in the mile at the Margaret Bradley Invitational (2/17). (Outdoor): Did not compete.
2022-23: (Cross Country): Helped the 'Cats to an eighth-place team finish at the Gans Creek Classic with a 20th-place finish individually (9/30) ... Ran a personal best 6k at the Bradley Pink Classic, finishing third among Wildcats and 15th overall with a time of 20:39.3 (10/14) ... Finished fourth among NU runners and 40th overall at the Big Ten Championships, helping the 'Cats to a fifth-place team finish (10/28) ... Placed 27th at the Midwest Regional, contributing to a second place team finish and an NCAA Championship berth (11/11). (Indoor): Finished second in the 3,000m at the Bob Eubanks Open with a time of 9:41.25 (1/14) ... PB'd in both the 800m and the mile at the Blue Demon Alumni Classic, finishing the races first and fifth respectively (1/20) ... Ran to a personal best with a time of 9:31.56 in the 3000m at the Boston University Valentine Invite (2/10). (Outdoor): Won in the 1,500m race at the Illini Challenge with a time of 4:27.96, the fourth fastest time in program history (4/8). DNF at Raleigh Relays (3/23); won the 1500m at the Illini Challenge, a PR and 4th best program overall with a 4:27.96 (4/8); DNF in the 5000m at the Illini Challenge (4/8); Ran a 16:22.92 in the 5000m at the Bryan Clay Invitational, the 5th fastest in program history and qualifying her for the European U23 Championships (4/13).
2021-22: (Cross Country): Opened collegiate career at the Hawkeye Invitational 4km, placing 20th with a time of 14:37.6 (9/3) ... Recorded a 5km time of 18:47.6 at the Joe Paine Invitational (10/1). (Outdoor): Competed in the 4x1600m, helping the team place 7th with a team time of 20:03.32 (4/28).
GET TO KNOW ANNA OFF THE COURSE:
What are you studying? Any career goals? Currently majoring in Biological Sciences and I am planning on minoring in data science and/or biotechnology.
What do you love most about Northwestern Cross Country? I love the team the most. Everyone is genuinely so sweet and encouraging. It's a pleasure walking into the locker room every day <3
Favorite memory of Northwestern Cross Country? My favorite memory is probably every time we all go out to eat to celebrate someone's birthday. It just shows how much we care about each other out side of running as well!
What do you love about running? I love the excitement of trying to see how fast I can be.
What hobbies do you enjoy? Playing the violin, playing soccer and just hanging out with my friends
- 3x Academic All-Big Ten (2022, 2023, 2024)
| PB’s | TIME | DATE |
| 4k (XC) | 14:37.6 | 9/3/21 (Hawkeye Invitational) |
| 5k (XC) | 18:47.6 | 10/1/21 (Joe Piane Invitational) |
| 6k (XC) | 20:39.3 | 10/14/22 (Bradley Pink Classic) |
| 800m (Indoor) | 2:16.93 | 1/20/23 (Blue Demon Alumni Classic) |
| Mile (Indoor) | 4:57.01 | 1/18/25 (UW Preview) |
| 3,000m (Indoor) | 9:31.02 | 2/9/24 (David Hemery Valentine Invitational) |
| 1,500m (Outdoor) | 4:27.87 | 5/2/25 (Badger Challenge) |
| 5,000m (Outdoor) | 16:22.92 | 4/13/23 (Bryan Clay Invitational) |
2024-25: (Cross Country): Saw action in three cross country meets ... Placed 16th (21:43.1) at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational (10/4) ... Ran 21:16.6 (42nd) as the 'Cats took home the team crown at the Bradley Pink Classic (10/18) ... Turned in top 6k time of the year at the Big Ten Conference Championships (11/1), where she finished in 20:55.4 (95th). (Indoor): Kicked off indoor campaign with a personal-best 4:57.01 (44th) in the mile run at the UW Preview (1/18) ... Placed fourth (9:56.08) in the 3,000m run at the Midwest Classic (1/31-2/1). (Outdoor): Earned top-five finish in the 1,500m run at the Spartan Invitational (4/4), placing fourth in 4:29.66 ... Posted a 5,000m run season best of 16:24.56 (18th) at the prestigious Penn Relays (4/24) ... Closed campaign with a 1,500m run personal-best 4:27.87 (4th) at the Badger Challenge (5/2).
2023-24: (Cross Country): Did not compete. (Indoor): Earned runner-up finish in 3,000m run at Aurora Grand Prix (1/19), clocking in at 9:48.20 ... Posted personal-best 9:31.02 (72nd) in the event at David Hemery Valentine Invitational (2/9) ... Closed season by placing second (5:00.64) in the mile at the Margaret Bradley Invitational (2/17). (Outdoor): Did not compete.
2022-23: (Cross Country): Helped the 'Cats to an eighth-place team finish at the Gans Creek Classic with a 20th-place finish individually (9/30) ... Ran a personal best 6k at the Bradley Pink Classic, finishing third among Wildcats and 15th overall with a time of 20:39.3 (10/14) ... Finished fourth among NU runners and 40th overall at the Big Ten Championships, helping the 'Cats to a fifth-place team finish (10/28) ... Placed 27th at the Midwest Regional, contributing to a second place team finish and an NCAA Championship berth (11/11). (Indoor): Finished second in the 3,000m at the Bob Eubanks Open with a time of 9:41.25 (1/14) ... PB'd in both the 800m and the mile at the Blue Demon Alumni Classic, finishing the races first and fifth respectively (1/20) ... Ran to a personal best with a time of 9:31.56 in the 3000m at the Boston University Valentine Invite (2/10). (Outdoor): Won in the 1,500m race at the Illini Challenge with a time of 4:27.96, the fourth fastest time in program history (4/8). DNF at Raleigh Relays (3/23); won the 1500m at the Illini Challenge, a PR and 4th best program overall with a 4:27.96 (4/8); DNF in the 5000m at the Illini Challenge (4/8); Ran a 16:22.92 in the 5000m at the Bryan Clay Invitational, the 5th fastest in program history and qualifying her for the European U23 Championships (4/13).
2021-22: (Cross Country): Opened collegiate career at the Hawkeye Invitational 4km, placing 20th with a time of 14:37.6 (9/3) ... Recorded a 5km time of 18:47.6 at the Joe Paine Invitational (10/1). (Outdoor): Competed in the 4x1600m, helping the team place 7th with a team time of 20:03.32 (4/28).
GET TO KNOW ANNA OFF THE COURSE:
What are you studying? Any career goals? Currently majoring in Biological Sciences and I am planning on minoring in data science and/or biotechnology.
What do you love most about Northwestern Cross Country? I love the team the most. Everyone is genuinely so sweet and encouraging. It's a pleasure walking into the locker room every day <3
Favorite memory of Northwestern Cross Country? My favorite memory is probably every time we all go out to eat to celebrate someone's birthday. It just shows how much we care about each other out side of running as well!
What do you love about running? I love the excitement of trying to see how fast I can be.
What hobbies do you enjoy? Playing the violin, playing soccer and just hanging out with my friends
New Season, Fresh Fits 🔥
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