NAPERVILLE — The following notebook takes a look back at the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) women’s indoor track & field slate from last weekend, highlighted by record-setting efforts and movement on national and conference performance lists. Conference teams were led by performances at the Keck DIII Select and the Tadd Metzger Invitational.
 
The National Scene: Titans and Bluejays
According to the USTFCCCA National Team Rating Index released Tuesday, Illinois Wesleyan leads the conference at No. 13 nationally after a nine-spot climb from the previous week. Elmhurst is ranked No. 21, while North Park sits at No. 66. Carthage (No. 73) and North Central (No. 80) also remain listed in the national index as the conference moves toward championship season.
 
Crabtree Crushes Records and Distance Barriers
Distance action on Saturday was paced by Illinois Wesleyan senior Adriana Crabtree, who set both a program record and a CCIW all-time record in the 3,000-meter run at 9:42.66, surpassing the previous conference standard of 9:44.34 set in 2018. Crabtree, named CCIW Track Student-Athlete of the Week on Wednesday, also holds national list placements in the 3,000 (No. 4, 9:37.71) and the mile (No. 9, 4:54.60) based on adjusted qualifying times.
 
Also at Keck, Illinois Wesleyan sophomore Maddie Morgan won the 5,000-meter run in 18:59.33. Millikin sophomore Brooklynn Sweikar placed fourth in the mile at 5:13.50.
 
Hayes Hits High Notes and Sprint Records
Sprint results from Keck were led by North Park senior Riana Hayes, who won the 60-meter dash in a personal- and school-record 7.64, a mark that currently ranks No. 11 nationally. Hayes added a win in the 200-meter dash in 24.88, placing her No. 18 on the NCAA Division III qualifying list.
 
Elmhurst’s Paulina Tinajero finished second in the 60 in 7.68 (tied for No. 18 nationally). In the 400, Illinois Wesleyan freshman Mallory Short placed third in a personal-best 59.15, with North Central’s Alivia Henkel fourth in 59.53. Elmhurst junior Carmela Woods currently leads the CCIW in the 400 with a season-best 57.12.
 
Leaping into the National Conversation
In the jumps, Illinois Wesleyan’s Imani Ogunribido remains the national leader in the triple jump with a season mark of 12.53 meters. At Keck, she won the triple jump (11.92) and placed third in the long jump (5.36).
 
In the pole vault, North Central senior Gwen Berenyi won at Keck with a season-best 3.75 meters (12' 3.50"), tied for No. 18 nationally. North Park junior Julia Klein is currently No. 13 nationally in the pole vault at 3.81 meters. Tinajero remains a national contender in the long jump, currently ranked No. 5 with a mark of 5.82 meters.
 
At the Tadd Metzger meet, Wheaton College junior Grace Crowder won the high jump at 1.63 meters.
 
Throwing Down the Gauntlet in Kenosha
Carthage hosted the Tadd Metzger Invitational last Friday and Saturday and won the team title with 222 points. Sophomore Madison Payne highlighted the meet by winning the shot put at 13.80 meters to move into the national top 10, and added a win in the weight throw at 15.79 meters. Carthage teammates Lillian Townsend (13.08) and Jackie Tuzil (11.56) followed in the shot put.
 
Carroll finished second as a team, highlighted by 34 women’s personal records and a second-place finish in the 4x400-meter relay. Wheaton placed third, led by Heidi Krekelberg’s win in the 55-meter dash (7.29) and a runner-up finish by its mile relay.
 
Versatility in the Multi-Events
The pentathlon at Tadd Metzger was won by Wheaton’s Sally Elsen with 3,108 points. Elsen posted the top performance in the 800-meter run and the 55-meter hurdles, while finishing second in both the shot put and high jump. Her score currently ranks No. 34 on the NCAA Division III qualifying list.
 
Augustana sophomore Khaliah Knox placed fourth in the pentathlon at the Wartburg Indoor Select Meet on Friday with 2,596 points. Earlier this season, Elmhurst’s Chloe Selmer established a top conference mark in the long jump at 5.75 meters, which ranks No. 7 nationally.
 
Relay Success and Mid-Distance Milestones
Illinois Wesleyan won the 4x400-meter relay at Keck as the quartet of Short, Mackenzie Huber, Bella Gonzalez and Jordynn Griffin posted a 3:58.51. North Central placed third in 4:03.00.
 
In the 800, North Central freshman Dylan Moeller set a school freshman record at 2:17.75 while placing fourth at Keck, a time that ranks No. 46 nationally. Illinois Wesleyan’s Huber holds a national placement of No. 34 in the 800 with a time of 2:15.41.
 
The Road Ahead: Championships and Big Meets
Conference teams continue their indoor schedules with multiple meets set for this Friday and Saturday. North Central hosts the Chicagoland Indoor Championships on Friday, with Elmhurst and Wheaton among the expected conference participants. On the same day, a group from Illinois Wesleyan will compete at the GVSU Big Meet.
 
Saturday’s slate includes North Park also competing at GVSU, Carthage traveling to the Midwest Elite and Augustana heading to the Roger Haynes Invitational. Carroll is scheduled to compete at the Dick Hendricks Invite.