CHICAGO – The UIC track & field team was back in action for the second consecutive weekend Saturday afternoon, competing at the Redbird Invitational.
 
"It was definitely tough conditions out there today weather wise," said head coach Ashley Lucas. "Cold windy, rain. We had some who came mentally prepared for that and still competed very well either running a personal best or just off their bests. Then we had some who came mentally checked out and not ready to compete. In situations where weather isn't being friendly you have to control what you can control and some didn't do that well today with controlling their effort. We'll get back to work and set our eyes on the Illini Classic next week."
 
The men's and women's 4x400 relay teams each finished on the podium, marking the highest finishes of the day for the program. Aiyanna Hilton, Brooke Klatkiewicz, Bailey Moran and Haley Dahl combined to post a time of 4:11.58 to finish runner-up in the event while the quartet of Tre Rivers, Nathan Lim, Dathan Maton and Owen Hassler claimed third in the men's race (3:35.57).
 
A pair of PRs fell in the men's and women's 200m events. Jesse Casas finished inside the top-10 with a seventh-place showing, crossing the line in a PR time of 22.95. Haley Dahl finished 17^th in the women's race with PR time of 27.70 while Bailey Moran finished two spots ahead with a time of 26.70.
 
Two more PRs were set in the 1500m events, with Rosie Campbell-Watt and Dathan Maton each improving upon their personal bests. Maton finished 16^th overall (4:01.82) in the men's race while Campbell-Watt finished the women's race in 4:58.20. Cailyn Persinger also ran in the women's 1500m, posting a 26^th place time of 4:55.42.
 
The Flames will be back in action April 8-9 at the annual Illini Relays.