The Illinois Wesleyan University men’s and women’s track and field teams will compete at the Midwest Twilight Final Qualifier hosted by Augustana College on May 13-14, aiming to improve their national qualifying marks.
This event is significant as it provides athletes with a last chance to secure or enhance their positions in the NCAA Division III rankings. Five Titans are currently within the top-22 nationally in their respective events, putting them in contention for postseason competition.
Seniors Evan Lowder, Adriana Crabtree, and Taylor French, along with juniors Mackenzie Huber and Imani Ogunribido, are among those ranked inside the NCAA Division III top-22 cutline. Ogunribido holds second place nationally in the triple jump with a season-best of 12.43 meters. Lowder is ranked seventh in the men’s 400 meters after posting a time of 46.99 seconds at last week’s meet. Crabtree also sits seventh in the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase following her performance at the Bryan Clay Invite on April 16.
Huber is ranked fifteenth nationally in the women’s 800 meters after achieving a personal best of 2:10.07 at Indiana University’s Billy Hayes Invite on May 8. French is nineteenth in women’s javelin with a throw of 42.08 meters. Senior Gavin Gonzalez aims to break into the top-22 this week; he currently ranks twenty-fifth nationally in men’s javelin after setting a school record of 60.87 meters on April 11.
The Illinois Wesleyan Titans Men’s Track and Field team hosts indoor events at Shirk Center Indoor Track, belongs to the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW), competes at NCAA Division III level, features student-athletes from freshman to senior years, operates within intercollegiate athletics, is based in Bloomington, Illinois, and recently placed second at CCIW Championships according to the official website.
French will start off for Illinois Wesleyan on Wednesday at 3 p.m., competing first for her team in women’s javelin.
