Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, April 17
Terre Haute, Ind.
5 p.m. CT
Northwestern
at
Gibson Invitational
Photo by: Kailey Zagst/Northwestern Athletics
Hightower, Capala Impress At Bryan Clay Invitational
4/18/2026 1:30:00 AM | Women's Cross Country & Track
‘Cats post five new top 10 times to program record boards at prestigious meet
AZUSA, Calif. (April 17, 2026) – Led by standout runs from Anna Hightower and Olivia Capala, Northwestern track racked up five new additions to the program's all-time outdoor record boards at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif.
Battling one of the nation's top 5,000m run fields, Hightower paced the attack for the Wildcats on a mild evening at Azusa Pacific University's Cougar Athletic Stadium. Out of Arnhem, Netherlands, Hightower ran a 36-second overall personal best in the event's second heat, as she raced through with a time of 15:46.72 to rocket up to second all-time at Northwestern.
Opening the day's action in the Golden State, Capala cruised past her own school record in the 800m run. The Denville, N.J. native clocked a time of 2:09.99, clearing her previous top time by well over a second, en route to placing fourth in her heat of the event.
The pairing of Jackie Holman and Ava Criniti notched new outdoor 5,000m personal bests en route to ascending into the top 10 in Wildcat annals. Holman clocked in at 16:01.09, surpassing her outdoor personal best by 47 seconds, to move to fifth all-time, while Criniti shaved 36 seconds off her top outdoor 5,000m effort to climb to sixth all-time at 16:08.68.
Maddy Whitman wrapped up the evening with an outdoor personal best of her own in the 5,000m run, battling across in 16:25.12, a 25-second improvement, on the way to moving to ninth all-time in program history.
Competing at the Gibson Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind., Cary Drake and Mallory Grubb orchestrated their second straight one-two finish in the 3,000m steeplechase. Drake, who set a new program record in her event debut last week, surged to victory in 10:35.42, while Grubb came through in 11:10.33, outdistancing her next closest competitor by over 18 seconds.
Mia Mraz closed out Northwestern's stay in the Hoosier State with a victory of her own, cruising to a first-place finish in the 5,000m run with a time of 16:56.16. Ava Earl (2nd; 17:02.75) and Marley McCullough (4th; 17:54.35) joined Mraz inside the top five.
Gallery: (4-17-2026) Track at Gibson Invitational
Northwestern returns to action on Friday, May 1 to conclude the regular season portion of its outdoor schedule at the Badger Challenge in Madison, Wis.
Battling one of the nation's top 5,000m run fields, Hightower paced the attack for the Wildcats on a mild evening at Azusa Pacific University's Cougar Athletic Stadium. Out of Arnhem, Netherlands, Hightower ran a 36-second overall personal best in the event's second heat, as she raced through with a time of 15:46.72 to rocket up to second all-time at Northwestern.
Opening the day's action in the Golden State, Capala cruised past her own school record in the 800m run. The Denville, N.J. native clocked a time of 2:09.99, clearing her previous top time by well over a second, en route to placing fourth in her heat of the event.
The pairing of Jackie Holman and Ava Criniti notched new outdoor 5,000m personal bests en route to ascending into the top 10 in Wildcat annals. Holman clocked in at 16:01.09, surpassing her outdoor personal best by 47 seconds, to move to fifth all-time, while Criniti shaved 36 seconds off her top outdoor 5,000m effort to climb to sixth all-time at 16:08.68.
Maddy Whitman wrapped up the evening with an outdoor personal best of her own in the 5,000m run, battling across in 16:25.12, a 25-second improvement, on the way to moving to ninth all-time in program history.
Competing at the Gibson Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind., Cary Drake and Mallory Grubb orchestrated their second straight one-two finish in the 3,000m steeplechase. Drake, who set a new program record in her event debut last week, surged to victory in 10:35.42, while Grubb came through in 11:10.33, outdistancing her next closest competitor by over 18 seconds.
Mia Mraz closed out Northwestern's stay in the Hoosier State with a victory of her own, cruising to a first-place finish in the 5,000m run with a time of 16:56.16. Ava Earl (2nd; 17:02.75) and Marley McCullough (4th; 17:54.35) joined Mraz inside the top five.
Northwestern returns to action on Friday, May 1 to conclude the regular season portion of its outdoor schedule at the Badger Challenge in Madison, Wis.
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
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