McLean County Times

An eventful conclusion of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Championships was marked by the successful performances of the Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) men's and women's track and field teams. The teams secured five conference titles and a total of 39 All-CCIW honors. Freshman Nick Walker from Metamora, Illinois, was named the CCIW Men's Field Newcomer of the Meet as he clinched the high jump title.

The IWU men's team achieved a record score of 139 points, finishing second behind North Central, which amassed 236 points. Augustana followed in third place with 125 points. The women’s team scored 112.5 points to finish fourth, while Elmhurst claimed the women's title with 161.5 points. North Central and Augustana finished second and third in the women's category with 145 and 114 points, respectively.

Sophomore Imani Ogunribido set a new school and CCIW meet record in the women's triple jump, attaining a mark of 12.57m. Her performance ranks third in Division III for the current season and is the 12th-best mark in the history of Division III. Senior Franchesca Smith also received All-CCIW honors in this event.

In another notable performance, Walker managed a jump of 2.03m to win the high jump title on his first attempt at that height, with his mark standing 22nd in Division III this season. Teammates Matt Lindberg and Keagan Uphoff also made it to the All-CCIW list with their fourth and seventh-place finishes, respectively.

In the 1500m event, Junior Adriana Crabtree finished second following her victory in the 3k steeplechase the previous night. Crabtree also achieved All-CCIW honors in the 5000m. Senior Ernie Waterson delivered a compelling performance, securing the 800m CCIW title with a 1:53.75 run.

The reigning champion in the men's 400m, Junior Evan Lowder, successfully defended his title. Sophomore teammate Reese Dusek finished second, and also claimed All-CCIW honors in the 200m. Other promising performances came from Alex Harvey in the 110m hurdles and the men's 4-by-400m relay team, which won first place.

Finally, the women's 4-by-400m relay team finished second, marking the team as a strong competitor throughout the championships.

Overall, the Illinois Wesleyan University track and field teams delivered a noteworthy performance that leaves them with a strong position moving forward.