Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, February 13
Chicago, Ill.
3 p.m. CT
Northwestern
at
Blue Demon Alumni Classic
Photo by: Kailey Zagst/Northwestern Athletics
‘Cats Climb Record Boards At David Hemery Valentine Invitational, Blue Demon Alumni Classic
2/14/2026 8:30:00 PM | Women's Cross Country & Track
Northwestern posts six new top 10 marks across two meets
BOSTON, Mass. (February 14, 2026) – Northwestern track added six marks to the program's all-time indoor record boards to highlight a successful weekend of competition as the 'Cats split their squad for the final time during the indoor campaign.
The Wildcats' 3,000m run group led the way on Saturday evening in Boston, Mass. at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational. Anna Hightower paced the attack, running 9:09.13 to shave over a second off her previous personal best, which was run earlier this season on the same track at the Boston University Track & Tennis Center. The Arnhem, Netherlands native's showing sees her solidify her hold on the number three spot on the program's all-time indoor record board in the event.
Fresh off shattering her own program record in the 800m run two weeks ago, Skye Ellis landed just over a half-second back of Hightower, running a 12-second personal best of 9:09.71 to finish 12th overall and move to fourth in Wildcat annals. Jackie Holman rounded out an impressive showing by the 'Cats in the event, as she jumped to sixth all-time at 9:13.94, a near 10-second personal best that saw her place 20th overall.
Ava Criniti closed out the evening with a dazzling effort in the 5,000m run. Out of Lexington, Mass., Criniti ran the second fastest time in program history, shaving 17 seconds off her previous top time to surge through in 15:54.42 en route to finishing 15th. Maddy Whitman posted a time of 16:20.25, while Mia Mraz joined Criniti in establishing a personal best of her own, crossing in 16:32.19.
Competing closer to home Friday at the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center at Gately Park for the Blue Demon Alumni Classic, Olivia Capala continued the scintillating start to her first-year campaign. The Denville, N.J. product earned a runner-up finish in the 800m run as she rocketed to second all-time at Northwestern following a showing of 2:09.00.
Cary Drake used an inspired finish to bring home the mile run title, charging across in a personal-best 4:46.99. Drake's time moves her to sixth all-time at Northwestern in the event. Allegra Massey (4th; 4:58.32) and Mallory Grubb (5th; 4:58.34) also posted sub-five-minute times, with Massey also setting a new personal best.
Kailey Zagst led Northwestern's 3,000m group competing on Chicago's South Side, clocking a nine-second personal best of 9:50.69 to claim a sixth-place finish.
Gallery: (2-13-2026) Track at Blue Demon Alumni Classic
Northwestern concludes the regular season portion of its indoor schedule by making the short trip south for the Margaret Bradley Invitational in Chicago, Ill. on Saturday, February 21.
The Wildcats' 3,000m run group led the way on Saturday evening in Boston, Mass. at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational. Anna Hightower paced the attack, running 9:09.13 to shave over a second off her previous personal best, which was run earlier this season on the same track at the Boston University Track & Tennis Center. The Arnhem, Netherlands native's showing sees her solidify her hold on the number three spot on the program's all-time indoor record board in the event.
Fresh off shattering her own program record in the 800m run two weeks ago, Skye Ellis landed just over a half-second back of Hightower, running a 12-second personal best of 9:09.71 to finish 12th overall and move to fourth in Wildcat annals. Jackie Holman rounded out an impressive showing by the 'Cats in the event, as she jumped to sixth all-time at 9:13.94, a near 10-second personal best that saw her place 20th overall.
Ava Criniti closed out the evening with a dazzling effort in the 5,000m run. Out of Lexington, Mass., Criniti ran the second fastest time in program history, shaving 17 seconds off her previous top time to surge through in 15:54.42 en route to finishing 15th. Maddy Whitman posted a time of 16:20.25, while Mia Mraz joined Criniti in establishing a personal best of her own, crossing in 16:32.19.
Competing closer to home Friday at the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center at Gately Park for the Blue Demon Alumni Classic, Olivia Capala continued the scintillating start to her first-year campaign. The Denville, N.J. product earned a runner-up finish in the 800m run as she rocketed to second all-time at Northwestern following a showing of 2:09.00.
Cary Drake used an inspired finish to bring home the mile run title, charging across in a personal-best 4:46.99. Drake's time moves her to sixth all-time at Northwestern in the event. Allegra Massey (4th; 4:58.32) and Mallory Grubb (5th; 4:58.34) also posted sub-five-minute times, with Massey also setting a new personal best.
Kailey Zagst led Northwestern's 3,000m group competing on Chicago's South Side, clocking a nine-second personal best of 9:50.69 to claim a sixth-place finish.
Northwestern concludes the regular season portion of its indoor schedule by making the short trip south for the Margaret Bradley Invitational in Chicago, Ill. on Saturday, February 21.
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
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