Chicago, Ill. – Over the weekend UIC took a select group of athletes to North Carolina to compete in the annual Raleigh Relays while the remaining Flames took part in the Edmonds Invitational in Rensselaer, Ind. and set personal bests.

In Raleigh, N.C. the women put forth their best efforts as distance runner Lizzie Deutsch recorded a personal best in the 5000 meter with a time of 17:41.05, shaving 14 seconds off her previous mark.  Allison Hansen crossed the finish line with a time of 17:47.67.  Sprinter Paige Crawford posted her third-best time ever and fastest non-conference championship time (1:04.51) in the 400 hurdles.
 
In the men's events, sprinters Martin Hunter and Jordan Munar lead the charge as both ran in the invitational sections of the 200 meter. Martin ran a 21.86 (into a significant headwind) and Jordan posted a time of 21.89 good for seventh and eighth place respectfully.   The two also competed in the 100 meter as Martin finished in 10.92 seconds and Munar (10.98).
 
Shaun Wollenweber finished fifth overall with a leap of 14.87 in the triple jump.  He also placed among the top 15 (13^th place) in the long jump with a mark of 6.81 meters. Christian Saporiti earned a 12^th place finish in the shot put with a toss of 14.69 meters.  Saporiti also threw the hammer a distance of 46.42 meters close to a personal best.
 
"Our team benefitted from the warm weather and competitive environment of elite competition," said head coach Gabe Rivera.  "It is great to see that we are starting the outdoor season off with some strong performances. I was impressed with how a number of our athletes competed this weekend."

At the Edmonds Invite UIC captured three first place, five second place and three third place finishes.  Women's sprinter Alimot Lawal set personal best in the 100 m (12.44), 200 m (25.85) and the long jump (5.47 meters).  Lawal took first place in both the 100 and 200 meter and second in the long jump while teammate Basirat Iginla garnered second place in the 100 meter (12.61) and 200 meter (25.92), both personal bests. In the 100 meter hurdles Janine Fajardo finished in fourth place with a time of 15.74 and in field events, Kamryn Daniels scored a second place finish with a leap of 10.67 meters in the triple jump.

The men's team also fared well on the track as Emmanuel Onoh collected two third place finishes in the 100 meter (11.12) and 200 meter (22.64) races.  Maciej Markiewicz (56.47) and Jakob Mogorvic (57.91) finished second and third in the 400 hurdles event.  In the shot put, Luke Taccola took second place with a toss of 14.43 meters and Laith Kanan (47.06 meters) was fourth in the hammer throw.

The Flames return to the track on Friday and Saturday at the Eastern Illinois Big Blue Classic in Charleston, Ill.