University of Illinois
War Eagle Invitational
Women's Distance Runners Help Lead Illini At War Eagle Invitational
April 20, 2019 | Women's Track & Field
Friday Results | Saturday Results
AUBURN, Ala. - Fighting Illini track and field women's distance runners won both the 1500m Invite and the 1500m open race, and several runners set personal-bests to help lead the Illinois at the War Eagle Classic hosted by Auburn this weekend. On Friday night, sophomore Mikaela Lucki won the event title in the 1500m Invite, and sophomore Allison McGrath placed first in the 1500m open race on Saturday. Sophomore Nicki Cast also set a new personal-best and the eighth fastest 3000m Steeplechase in program history Friday night, clocking a finish of 10:34.55.
"We had another good meet," said head coach Mike Turk. "I'm very pleased with the effort and execution by the team as a whole. As we push towards the end of the year, I continue to remain impressed by our mindset to continue to grow and improve. The results speak for themselves. We had over 16 lifetime personal bests and numerous seasonal bests and several highlight performances. This group continues to work hard, remain focused and put forth great, competitive effort. Our upperclassmen have stepped up in their roles as leaders and we are becoming a very tight knit, unified team. I'm proud to have those qualities as a part of our program culture. Good things are happening and we continue to come together in support of one another to higher levels. It's a noticeable shift in our team dynamics."
The Illini were strong in the women's 1500m Invite on Friday, as Mikaela Lucki won the event title with the first-place finish time of 4:29.60. Freshman Emma Milburn also earned a top-five finish with her personal-best time of 4:31.65, which was good for third place. Junior Grace Rogers also set a new PR with her finish time of 4:36.44 and placed sixth.
Next up on Friday evening, sophomore Nicki Cast placed third in the 3000m Steeplechase, recording a new PR finish of 10:34.55 which ranks eighth best in Illinois program history. Freshman Lauren Katz also set a new PR in the race with her finish time of 11:19.90 which placed her seventh.
In Saturday's 1500m open race, the Illini claimed the top-three spots which each runner setting a new personal-best in the event. Sophomore Allison McGrath placed first in the event with her time of 4:34.54. Sophomore Caroline Fix claimed second, recording a finish time of 4:39.56. Freshman Shanice Garbutt would finish third, clocking a time of 4:39.87.
"Coaches (Sarah) Haveman and (Nolan) Fife have done an exceptional job of leading the group, and they are improving daily," Turk said. "Lucki led the way in the invitational section of the 1500 for the win, and five other ladies set new lifetime bests, including Emma Milburn and Grace Rogers. Allison McGrath won the open section and ran a tremendous race. She committed to make a big move with about 600m to go and never looked back. That was a great example of the kind of competitors we strive to become, and displayed controlled recklessness in competition. A 'just go for it mentality'. What a joy to see along with Fix and Garbutt chasing her for a one-two-three finish, all lifetime bests."
"Nicki Cast was a highlight and she cracked the top ten (program history 3000m Steeplechase) with her effort. Nicki has amazed me with her determination and competitiveness. Lauren Katz also had a new PR in the event."
Chisom Nwoko made her mark on Saturday in the 400m and with the 4x400 relay team. The 4x400m relay, comprised of Nwoko, senior Briana Driver, sophomore Amira Aduma and junior Felicia Phillips, clocked a season-best finish of 3:44.11 to win the event title at the War Eagle Invitational.
Earlier in the afternoon, Nwoko placed third in the 400m, recording a time of 54.03.
Senior Janile Rogers also helped lead the Illini on Saturday. In the Long Jump, she recorded a jump of 5.84 meters. She also recorded a top-10 finish in the women's 200m, placing eighth with a time of 24.10.
The Illini would see another season-best in the 400m Hurdles, courtesy of sophomore Amira Aduma. Aduma placed second in the event at the War Eagle Invitational, clocking a time of 1:00.94.
"Amira Aduma has quietly returned to her pre-injury form from 2018," Turk said. "She ran very near her lifetime best. Amira looks fit and is dropping time."
Up next, the Illini will head to the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa next week, competing Thursday, April 25 through Saturday, April 27. The Illini will begin competition at the Drake Relays at 4 p.m. CT on Thursday, April 25.
Event Winners:
1500m Invite: Mikaela Lucki- 4:29.60
1500m Open: Allison McGrath- 4:34.54
4x400m: Chisom Nwoko, Briana Driver, Amira Aduma, Felicia Phillips- 3:44.11
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