2019-20 Women's Cross Country Roster
Verbeke, Olivia
Olivia Verbeke
- Class:
- Sophomore
- High School:
- Fox Valley Lutheran
- Hometown:
- Appleton, Wis.
Bio
AWARDS AND HONORS:
2022-23 (Cross Country): Kicked off her cross country season with a 36th-place finish in the 6k at the Big Ten Preview (9/9) ... Ran a 21:19.4 at the Gans Creek Classic, good for 33rd (9/30) ... PB'd at the Bradley Pink Classic with a time of 21:17.9 (10/14) ... Helped the 'Cats to a fifth-place team finish at the Big Ten Championships with a 21:53.7 6k (10/28) ... Contributed to Northwestern's NCAA Championship berth with a 21:38.7 in the Midwest Regionals (11/11) ... Ran a 22:19.2 at the NCAA Championships (11/19). (Indoor): PB'd with a time of 9:56.46 en route to a fifth-place finish in the 3,000m at the Bob Eubanks Open (1/14) ... Ran a personal-best 5:02.81 mile at the Blue Demon Alumni Classic, finishing seventh (1/20) ... Ran the 5,000m at the Boston University Valentine Invite (2/11). (Outdoor): Started her outdoor season with a 17:22.01 5,000m at the Raleigh Relays (3/23) ... One of four Wildcats to PB in the 1,500m at the Fighting Illini Challenge, finishing with a time of 4:40.29 (4/8).
2021-22 (Cross Country): Opened senior year cross country season at the Hawkeye Invitational 4km, placing 10th with a time of 14:22.2 (9/3) ... Raced at the Joe Piane Invitational, recording a 5km time of 18:57.1 (10/1) ... Recorded a 6km time of 22:34.8 at the PSU National Open (10/15) ... Placed 53rd in a 6km time of 21:53.8 at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships (10/29) ... Recorded a PB time of 21:32.8 at the NCAA Division I Midwest Region Cross Country Championships (11/12). (Outdoor): Opened senior year Outdoor season in the 5000m at Raleigh Relays, recording a time of 17:20.78 (3/25) ... Recorded a PB time of 4:44.50 in the 1500m at the Illini Classic (4/9) ... Placed 2nd in the 5000m at the Bryan Clay Invitational with a PB time of 16:56.87 (4/14) ... Placed 10th in the 5000m at Drake relays with a time of 17:05.11 (4/28).
2020-21 (Cross Country): Logged a 6000M time of 21:54.0 at the Big Ten Championship (1/30). (Indoor): Placed 8th in the 3000m at the Badger Icebreaker in a time of 10:11.33 (1/16) ... Placed ninth in the mile with a time of 5:03.02 at the Hoosier Hills Invitational (2/6) ... Placed 15th in the 3000m at the Hawkeye B1G invitational with a PB time of 9:56.68 (2/12). (Outdoor):Competed in the DMR helping the team place 8th at the Fighting Illini Big Ten Relays (4/23).
2019-20 (Cross Country): Recorded a 5km time of 18:53.6 at the Illini Open (8/30) ... Recorded a PB 5km XC time of 18:40.3 at the Illinois State Invite (9/13) ... Competed in first collegiate 6km race at the Ohio State - Buckeye Preview (9/28).
2018-19 (Cross Country): Opened collegiate career at the EIU's Walt Crawford Open recording a 5km time of 20:39.1 (8/31). (Indoor): Finished 14th in the 400m with a time of 1:03.42 at the Illini Classic in Champaign, Ill.(1/12). (Outdoor): Finished second in the 400m with a time of 1:01:69 at the Benedictine Invitational (4/6) ... Came close to first with a second-place time of 2:20.64 in the 800m at the Huskie Classic (5/4).
WHY NORTHWESTERN?
Northwestern had the perfect balance of academic and athletic excellence. Not only was I able to earn a degree from a top-ten university, but I was also able to compete in the Big Ten Conference and achieve my athletic goals. More than this though, my teammates and coaches are what make this place so special.
GET TO KNOW OLIVIA OFF THE COURSE:
What are you studying? Any career goals? I just graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Psychological Services. I hope to go on to pursue my doctorate in clinical psychology or a career in coaching.
What do you love most about Northwestern Cross Country? The people. My teammates and coaches are truly family. Getting to run with this amazing group of women is what I look forward to every day. Our program is united under one common goal and building something special.
Favorite memory of Northwestern Cross Country? One of my favorite memories was when we got stuck in Boston due to a snow storm and had a PowerPoint night in the hotel lobby. A special highlight was Coach Connor’s amazing PowerPoint.
What do you love about running? I love being able to push myself to become the best version that I can be. Running is truly something that I just love to do. Along with this, getting to help build a competitive program and a legacy here along with these girls is really motivating and meaningful.
What hobbies do you enjoy? Outside of running I love to read, play basketball, watch MMA, and smother my cat with love.
- 4x Academic All-Big Ten (2019, '20, '21, '22)
- 2021-2022 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
| PB’s | TIME | DATE |
| 400m (Indoor) | 1:03.42 | 1/12/19 (Illini Open) |
| 400m (Outdoor) | 1:01.69 | 4/6/19 (Benedictine Invitational) |
| 800m (Indoor) | 2:26.53 | 1/12/19 (Illini Open) |
| 800m (Outdoor) | 2:20.64 | 5/3/19 (NIU Huskie Classic) |
| 1500m (Outdoor) | 4:40.29 | 4/8/23 (Fighting Illini Challenge) |
| Mile (Indoor) | 5:02.81 | 1/20/23 (Blue Demon Alumni Classic) |
| 3000m (Indoor) | 9:56.46 | 1/14/23 (Bob Eubanks Open) |
| 3000m (Outdoor) | 10:07.09 | 5/8/21 (Wisconsin B1G Invitational) |
| 5000m (Indoor) | 17:03.67 | 2/11/23 (BU Valentine Invite) |
| 5000m (Outdoor) | 16:56.87 | 4/15/22 (Bryan Clay Invitational) |
| 4k | 14:22.2 | 9/3/21 (Hawkeye Invitational) |
| 5k | 18:40.3 | 9/13/19 (Illinois State Invite) |
| 6k | 21:17.9 | 10/14/22 (Bradley Pink Classic) |
2022-23 (Cross Country): Kicked off her cross country season with a 36th-place finish in the 6k at the Big Ten Preview (9/9) ... Ran a 21:19.4 at the Gans Creek Classic, good for 33rd (9/30) ... PB'd at the Bradley Pink Classic with a time of 21:17.9 (10/14) ... Helped the 'Cats to a fifth-place team finish at the Big Ten Championships with a 21:53.7 6k (10/28) ... Contributed to Northwestern's NCAA Championship berth with a 21:38.7 in the Midwest Regionals (11/11) ... Ran a 22:19.2 at the NCAA Championships (11/19). (Indoor): PB'd with a time of 9:56.46 en route to a fifth-place finish in the 3,000m at the Bob Eubanks Open (1/14) ... Ran a personal-best 5:02.81 mile at the Blue Demon Alumni Classic, finishing seventh (1/20) ... Ran the 5,000m at the Boston University Valentine Invite (2/11). (Outdoor): Started her outdoor season with a 17:22.01 5,000m at the Raleigh Relays (3/23) ... One of four Wildcats to PB in the 1,500m at the Fighting Illini Challenge, finishing with a time of 4:40.29 (4/8).
2021-22 (Cross Country): Opened senior year cross country season at the Hawkeye Invitational 4km, placing 10th with a time of 14:22.2 (9/3) ... Raced at the Joe Piane Invitational, recording a 5km time of 18:57.1 (10/1) ... Recorded a 6km time of 22:34.8 at the PSU National Open (10/15) ... Placed 53rd in a 6km time of 21:53.8 at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships (10/29) ... Recorded a PB time of 21:32.8 at the NCAA Division I Midwest Region Cross Country Championships (11/12). (Outdoor): Opened senior year Outdoor season in the 5000m at Raleigh Relays, recording a time of 17:20.78 (3/25) ... Recorded a PB time of 4:44.50 in the 1500m at the Illini Classic (4/9) ... Placed 2nd in the 5000m at the Bryan Clay Invitational with a PB time of 16:56.87 (4/14) ... Placed 10th in the 5000m at Drake relays with a time of 17:05.11 (4/28).
2020-21 (Cross Country): Logged a 6000M time of 21:54.0 at the Big Ten Championship (1/30). (Indoor): Placed 8th in the 3000m at the Badger Icebreaker in a time of 10:11.33 (1/16) ... Placed ninth in the mile with a time of 5:03.02 at the Hoosier Hills Invitational (2/6) ... Placed 15th in the 3000m at the Hawkeye B1G invitational with a PB time of 9:56.68 (2/12). (Outdoor):Competed in the DMR helping the team place 8th at the Fighting Illini Big Ten Relays (4/23).
2019-20 (Cross Country): Recorded a 5km time of 18:53.6 at the Illini Open (8/30) ... Recorded a PB 5km XC time of 18:40.3 at the Illinois State Invite (9/13) ... Competed in first collegiate 6km race at the Ohio State - Buckeye Preview (9/28).
2018-19 (Cross Country): Opened collegiate career at the EIU's Walt Crawford Open recording a 5km time of 20:39.1 (8/31). (Indoor): Finished 14th in the 400m with a time of 1:03.42 at the Illini Classic in Champaign, Ill.(1/12). (Outdoor): Finished second in the 400m with a time of 1:01:69 at the Benedictine Invitational (4/6) ... Came close to first with a second-place time of 2:20.64 in the 800m at the Huskie Classic (5/4).
WHY NORTHWESTERN?
Northwestern had the perfect balance of academic and athletic excellence. Not only was I able to earn a degree from a top-ten university, but I was also able to compete in the Big Ten Conference and achieve my athletic goals. More than this though, my teammates and coaches are what make this place so special.
GET TO KNOW OLIVIA OFF THE COURSE:
What are you studying? Any career goals? I just graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Psychological Services. I hope to go on to pursue my doctorate in clinical psychology or a career in coaching.
What do you love most about Northwestern Cross Country? The people. My teammates and coaches are truly family. Getting to run with this amazing group of women is what I look forward to every day. Our program is united under one common goal and building something special.
Favorite memory of Northwestern Cross Country? One of my favorite memories was when we got stuck in Boston due to a snow storm and had a PowerPoint night in the hotel lobby. A special highlight was Coach Connor’s amazing PowerPoint.
What do you love about running? I love being able to push myself to become the best version that I can be. Running is truly something that I just love to do. Along with this, getting to help build a competitive program and a legacy here along with these girls is really motivating and meaningful.
What hobbies do you enjoy? Outside of running I love to read, play basketball, watch MMA, and smother my cat with love.
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