CHICAGO (Dec. 8, 2023) – The UIC track and field teams had a strong showing at their first indoor meet of the season Friday, with multiple Flames finishing in the top three at DePaul's Blue Demon Invite, held at the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center at Gately Park.
COACHES' COMMENT
"Friday marked a great start to our indoor season, with numerous strong performances and new team members securing spots on UIC's all-time top 10 lists," said head coach
Paul Zavala. "Our coaching staff is excited about our team's progress and building momentum as we head into the new year."
TOP FINISHERS
Women
- In the mile, senior Daniela Martinez (Chicago, Ill./Lane Tech) took home silver with a time of 5:07.35. Graduate student Cailyn Persinger (Lee's Summit, Mo./Lee's Summit West/UMKC) and freshmen Indigo Sterud (Rockton, Ill./Hononegah) both placed in the top five in fourth and fifth place respectively, while Emma Dubie (Fenton, Mich./Fenton) was the fourth Flame to record a top ten finish, placing seventh in the event. Martinez's mile time put her eight in UIC record books.
- In the long jump, the newcomers represented the Flames well. Freshman Makaya Phillips (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) placed second (5.35m), while fellow freshman Ava Maglaya (Romeoville, Ill./Romeoville) (5.13m) and Antigone Siomos (Mount Prospect, Ill./Rolling Meadows) (4.34m) came in fifth and ninth. Phillips found a place in history for her jump, ranking fifth all-time.
- Senior Brooke Klatkiewicz (Hales Corners, Wis./Whitnell) came in sixth in the 600m run (1:40.46).
- Chinenye Ifeajekwu (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) placed fourth in her freshman debut for the Flames in the 300m dash (42.55). She now ranks third in Flames history books for that event.
Men
- Sophomore Marv Quinones (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East) finished third with a time of 1:27.04 in the 600m, while fellow classmate Miguel Agcaoili (Chicago, Ill./Lane Tech) placed seventh (1:29.80).
- In a crowded 60m field, juniors Max Rivera (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) and Paul Sackman (Lincolnwood, Ill./Niles West) advanced to the finals. The two finished within seconds of each other, with Rivera placing fourth (6.87) and Sackman fifth (6.92). Sackman's time put him fifth on UIC's all-time list.
- Freshman Bright Boasiako (Romeoville, Ill./Romeoville) (6.46m), senior Anthony Gordon (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) (6.41m) and Stephen Kapumba III (Bloomingdale, Ill.) (5.72m) placed fifth, sixth and 10th respectively in long jump.
- Freshmen Alexander Das (Oswego, Ill./Oswego East) (4:26.32) and Theodore Cunningham (Palatine, Ill./Fremd) (4:26.54) had back-to-back finishes in the mile, coming in third and fourth respectively.
- In his college debut, Amare Harris (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) had a strong finish in the 300m dash, placing fourth (36.21). That time landed him a third place spot on the Flame's all-time list.
UP NEXT
The Flames will be off for the next month before returning to the track on Jan. 19 for the Aurora Grand Prix. The competition will also take place at the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center at Gately Park.
FOLLOW THE FLAMES
For more information on UIC's track & field and cross country programs, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_XCTF or @UICFlames) and Instagram (@UIC_XCTF or @uicflames).
#FireUpFlames | #ChicagosCollegeTeam
