Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, May 15
Lincoln, Neb.
All Day
Northwestern
at
Big Ten Outdoor Championships
Photo by: Katy Cowell
Drake, Ellis Pace ‘Cats At Big Ten Outdoor Championships
5/17/2026 4:15:00 PM | Women's Cross Country & Track
Northwestern earns pair of podium finishes at outdoor league meet
LINCOLN, Neb. (May 17, 2026) – Cary Drake and Skye Ellis came away with podium finishes as Northwestern track battled sweltering conditions in its return to the Big Ten Conference Outdoor Championships this weekend in Lincoln, Neb.
The 'Cats tallied six points across the three-day meet to land 17th in the final team standings. Oregon totaled 110 points to claim the women's team crown.
Competing in the 3,000m steeplechase on Saturday afternoon, Drake posted the top finish by a Wildcat at the University of Nebraska's Outdoor Track & Field Complex. Just over two weeks removed from running a 25-second personal best in the event, Drake clocked a time of 10:14.89 to secure a fifth-place finish. The York, Maine native's showing was bolstered by an impressive final lap that saw her run 1:15.74 across her final 400m.
Gallery: (5-15-2026) Track at Big Ten Outdoor Championships
After placing fourth in the mile run at this past February's Big Ten Indoor Championships, Ellis added a seventh-place showing in the 1,500m run in the Cornhusker State. Running in temperatures in the low 90s in Friday's preliminary heats, the Jan Juc, Australia product used a final surge to place third in 4:24.06 and earn an automatic berth to Sunday's final. Ellis capped off her weekend with a time of 4:23.08 en route to her aforementioned finish.
Olivia Capala put the final exclamation point on her first-year campaign on Saturday afternoon, as she shattered her own program record in the 800m run for the third time in as many outings. Running in the afternoon's last preliminary heat, Capala posted an overall personal-best 2:08.23, checking in well over a second faster than her previous top outdoor effort in the event.
Following a lengthy delay to Friday's 10,000m run finals due to inclement weather, Jackie Holman was the first Wildcat across the finish line, racing through in 35:28.08 to place 13th overall. Mia Mraz followed just 12 seconds back, landing 16th at 35:40.61.
The pairing of Ava Criniti and Anna Hightower paced the attack for the 'Cats in the 5,000m run finals to close out competition on Sunday afternoon. Criniti and Hightower were separated by less than four seconds, with Criniti taking 13th at 17:18.54, while Hightower followed close behind in 17:22.09 to finish 14th.
Northwestern continues postseason competition at the NCAA West Preliminary, May 27-30, in Fayetteville, Ark.
The 'Cats tallied six points across the three-day meet to land 17th in the final team standings. Oregon totaled 110 points to claim the women's team crown.
Competing in the 3,000m steeplechase on Saturday afternoon, Drake posted the top finish by a Wildcat at the University of Nebraska's Outdoor Track & Field Complex. Just over two weeks removed from running a 25-second personal best in the event, Drake clocked a time of 10:14.89 to secure a fifth-place finish. The York, Maine native's showing was bolstered by an impressive final lap that saw her run 1:15.74 across her final 400m.
After placing fourth in the mile run at this past February's Big Ten Indoor Championships, Ellis added a seventh-place showing in the 1,500m run in the Cornhusker State. Running in temperatures in the low 90s in Friday's preliminary heats, the Jan Juc, Australia product used a final surge to place third in 4:24.06 and earn an automatic berth to Sunday's final. Ellis capped off her weekend with a time of 4:23.08 en route to her aforementioned finish.
Olivia Capala put the final exclamation point on her first-year campaign on Saturday afternoon, as she shattered her own program record in the 800m run for the third time in as many outings. Running in the afternoon's last preliminary heat, Capala posted an overall personal-best 2:08.23, checking in well over a second faster than her previous top outdoor effort in the event.
Following a lengthy delay to Friday's 10,000m run finals due to inclement weather, Jackie Holman was the first Wildcat across the finish line, racing through in 35:28.08 to place 13th overall. Mia Mraz followed just 12 seconds back, landing 16th at 35:40.61.
The pairing of Ava Criniti and Anna Hightower paced the attack for the 'Cats in the 5,000m run finals to close out competition on Sunday afternoon. Criniti and Hightower were separated by less than four seconds, with Criniti taking 13th at 17:18.54, while Hightower followed close behind in 17:22.09 to finish 14th.
Northwestern continues postseason competition at the NCAA West Preliminary, May 27-30, in Fayetteville, Ark.
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
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