Northwestern University Athletics
2025-26 Women's Cross Country & Track Roster
Ava Criniti
- Class:
- Redshirt Sophomore
- High School:
- Lexington High School
- Hometown:
- Lexington, Mass.
- Major:
- Journalism
AWARDS & HONORS:
2025-26: (Cross Country): Scored in all six of her appearances ... Second Team All-Big Ten Conference selection ... Led a dominant showing by the 'Cats at the season-opening Cowboy Preview (8/29), winning the 3k race in 10:13.1 ... Took fourth (20:19.9) in helping Northwestern top the team leaderboard at the Big Ten Preview (9/12) ... Shaved just over 20 seconds off that effort at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational (10/3), running 19:58.5 to finish eighth ... Spearheaded the Wildcat attack at the Nuttycombe Invitational (10/17), placing 23rd overall in 20:21.1 ... Secured All-Big Ten nod following a 14th-place finish (20:25.4) at the Big Ten Championships (10/31) ... Closed season with a 6k personal-best 19:54.8 at the NCAA Championships (11/22). (Indoor): Kicked off indoor slate with a time of 16:11.56 (60th) at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener (12/6) ... Member of the Wildcats' victorious 4x400m relay (4:20.45) at the Phoenix Invitational (1/10) ... Took 10th (9:22.95) amidst a loaded 3,000m run field at the UW Preview (1/17) ... Moved to second on the program's indoor 5,000m run record board at the David Hemery Valentine Invitaitonal (2/14/16), where she finished in 15:54.42 (15th) ... Secured a podium finish at the Big Ten Indoor Championships (2/26-28), placing sixth (15:58.40) in the 5,000m run ... Also saw action in the 3,000m run (12th; 9:18.50) at the indoor league meet. (Outdoor): NCAA West Preliminary qualifier ... Shattered 10,000m run program record in her event debut at the Raleigh Relays (3/26-28), surging to a time of 33:19.10 (21st) ... Ran 16:08.68 (14th) at the Bryan Clay Invitational (4/16-18) ... Shaved over 17 seconds off that showing at the Badger Challenge (5/1), clocking in at 15:51.38, the fourth fastest time in Wildcat annals, en route to victory ... Battled to a 13th-place finish (17:18.54) in the 5,000m run at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships ... Saw action in both the 5,000m run (24th; 16:10.79) and the 10,000m run (23rd; 33:54.17) at the NCAA West Preliminary (5/27-30).
2024-25: (Cross Country): Scored in all six of her appearances ... United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Region honoree ... Enjoyed a breakout performance at the Big Ten Conference Preview (9/13), placing fifth overall with a time of 20:32.9, as Northwestern brought home the team title at the event ... Finished 11th overall at the Bradley Pink Classic (10/18), where she posted a time of 20:37.2 to again help the 'Cats to another team crown and bring home Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week accolades ... Clocked 6k personal-best 20:20.7 (54th) at the Big Ten Conference Championships (11/1) ... Capped off season with a time of 20:30.5 (25th) at the NCAA Midwest Regional (11/15). (Indoor): Did not compete. (Outdoor): Did not compete.
2023-24: (Cross Country): Earned runner-up finish in collegiate debut in the 4k at the Flyers Flames Challenge (9/1) with a time of 14:38.4 ... Finished the 5k at the Badger Classic (9/9) with a 19:37.8 (49th). (Indoor): Made first track appearance at the Aurora Grand Prix (1/19), placing fourth (4:57.00) in the mile run ... Took eighth (9:46.74) in the 3,000m run at the Blue Demon Alumni Classic (1/26) ... Made first 5,000m run appearance (79th; 16:54.84) at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational (2/9). (Outdoor): Competed exclusively in the 5,000m run during the outdoor season ... Ran 17:38.09 (172nd) at the Raleigh Relays (3/28) ... Took sixth (17:15.36) at the Gary Weineke Memorial ... Ran season-best 16:44.74 (30th) at the Penn Relays (4/25).
High School: 2023 MIAA State Champion in the 3200m... 2022 Gatorade Player of the Year Nominee... 2022 Division 1A Cross Country Champion... 2023 Division 1 Outdoor 2-Mile Champion... Five-time Middlesex League MVP - twice in indoor track (2021-22, 2022-23), twice in outdoor track (2022, '23) and once in cross country (2022)... Two-time Middlesex League record-holder (indoor 1 mile; outdoor 2 mile)... Set a course record at Middlesex League Cross Country Championship... 2021-22 indoor track 1 mile state champion and 2022-23 2 mile state champion... Helped team to League Championships in indoor and outdoor track in 2023... Named varsity captain in indoor track her senior year and in outdoor track her junior and senior years... Boston Globe All-Scholastic in cross country (2022), indoor track (2021-22, 2022-23) and outdoor track (2023)
- USTFCCCA All-Midwest Region (2024)
- Second Team All-Big Ten XC (2025)
- USTFCCCA All-Academic Team (2024)
- Academic All-Big Ten (2024, 2025, 2026)
| PB's | Time | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 3k (XC) | 10:13.1 | 8/29/25 (Cowboy Preview) |
| 4k (XC) | 14:38.4 | 9/1/23 (Flyers Flames Challenge) |
| 5k (XC) | 19:37.8 | 9/9/23 (Badger Classic) |
| 6k (XC) | 19:54.8 | 11/22/25 (NCAA Championships) |
| Mile (Indoor) | 4:57.00 | 1/19/24 (Aurora Grand Prix) |
| 3,000m (Indoor) | 9:17.24 | 1/31/26 (Meyo Invitational) |
| 5,000m (Indoor) | 15:54.52 | 2/14/26 (David Hemery Valentine Invitational) |
| 5,000m (Outdoor) | 15:51.38 | 5/1/26 (Badger Challenge) |
| 10,000m (Outdoor) | 33:19.10 | 3/27/26 (Raleigh Relays) |
2025-26: (Cross Country): Scored in all six of her appearances ... Second Team All-Big Ten Conference selection ... Led a dominant showing by the 'Cats at the season-opening Cowboy Preview (8/29), winning the 3k race in 10:13.1 ... Took fourth (20:19.9) in helping Northwestern top the team leaderboard at the Big Ten Preview (9/12) ... Shaved just over 20 seconds off that effort at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational (10/3), running 19:58.5 to finish eighth ... Spearheaded the Wildcat attack at the Nuttycombe Invitational (10/17), placing 23rd overall in 20:21.1 ... Secured All-Big Ten nod following a 14th-place finish (20:25.4) at the Big Ten Championships (10/31) ... Closed season with a 6k personal-best 19:54.8 at the NCAA Championships (11/22). (Indoor): Kicked off indoor slate with a time of 16:11.56 (60th) at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener (12/6) ... Member of the Wildcats' victorious 4x400m relay (4:20.45) at the Phoenix Invitational (1/10) ... Took 10th (9:22.95) amidst a loaded 3,000m run field at the UW Preview (1/17) ... Moved to second on the program's indoor 5,000m run record board at the David Hemery Valentine Invitaitonal (2/14/16), where she finished in 15:54.42 (15th) ... Secured a podium finish at the Big Ten Indoor Championships (2/26-28), placing sixth (15:58.40) in the 5,000m run ... Also saw action in the 3,000m run (12th; 9:18.50) at the indoor league meet. (Outdoor): NCAA West Preliminary qualifier ... Shattered 10,000m run program record in her event debut at the Raleigh Relays (3/26-28), surging to a time of 33:19.10 (21st) ... Ran 16:08.68 (14th) at the Bryan Clay Invitational (4/16-18) ... Shaved over 17 seconds off that showing at the Badger Challenge (5/1), clocking in at 15:51.38, the fourth fastest time in Wildcat annals, en route to victory ... Battled to a 13th-place finish (17:18.54) in the 5,000m run at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships ... Saw action in both the 5,000m run (24th; 16:10.79) and the 10,000m run (23rd; 33:54.17) at the NCAA West Preliminary (5/27-30).
2024-25: (Cross Country): Scored in all six of her appearances ... United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Region honoree ... Enjoyed a breakout performance at the Big Ten Conference Preview (9/13), placing fifth overall with a time of 20:32.9, as Northwestern brought home the team title at the event ... Finished 11th overall at the Bradley Pink Classic (10/18), where she posted a time of 20:37.2 to again help the 'Cats to another team crown and bring home Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week accolades ... Clocked 6k personal-best 20:20.7 (54th) at the Big Ten Conference Championships (11/1) ... Capped off season with a time of 20:30.5 (25th) at the NCAA Midwest Regional (11/15). (Indoor): Did not compete. (Outdoor): Did not compete.
2023-24: (Cross Country): Earned runner-up finish in collegiate debut in the 4k at the Flyers Flames Challenge (9/1) with a time of 14:38.4 ... Finished the 5k at the Badger Classic (9/9) with a 19:37.8 (49th). (Indoor): Made first track appearance at the Aurora Grand Prix (1/19), placing fourth (4:57.00) in the mile run ... Took eighth (9:46.74) in the 3,000m run at the Blue Demon Alumni Classic (1/26) ... Made first 5,000m run appearance (79th; 16:54.84) at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational (2/9). (Outdoor): Competed exclusively in the 5,000m run during the outdoor season ... Ran 17:38.09 (172nd) at the Raleigh Relays (3/28) ... Took sixth (17:15.36) at the Gary Weineke Memorial ... Ran season-best 16:44.74 (30th) at the Penn Relays (4/25).
High School: 2023 MIAA State Champion in the 3200m... 2022 Gatorade Player of the Year Nominee... 2022 Division 1A Cross Country Champion... 2023 Division 1 Outdoor 2-Mile Champion... Five-time Middlesex League MVP - twice in indoor track (2021-22, 2022-23), twice in outdoor track (2022, '23) and once in cross country (2022)... Two-time Middlesex League record-holder (indoor 1 mile; outdoor 2 mile)... Set a course record at Middlesex League Cross Country Championship... 2021-22 indoor track 1 mile state champion and 2022-23 2 mile state champion... Helped team to League Championships in indoor and outdoor track in 2023... Named varsity captain in indoor track her senior year and in outdoor track her junior and senior years... Boston Globe All-Scholastic in cross country (2022), indoor track (2021-22, 2022-23) and outdoor track (2023)
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