ALLENDALE, Mich. (Dec. 6, 2024) - The UIC men's and women's track and field teams opened the 2024-25 indoor season on Friday, as both sides competed in the GVSU Holiday Open. 
 
While no team scores were tabulated for the event, several Flames student athletes had noteworthy performances on the day, and UIC set a good benchmark for the remainder of the season.
 
Full results can be found here.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS
"Today was filled with several great performances, and it was exciting to have several school records broken to start the indoor season," commented head coach Paul Zavala. "We look forward to continue building on our momentum next weekend."
 
Top Finishers
Men
 

• Theodore Cunningham (Palatine, Ill./Fremd) finished 4th in the 3000m with a time of 8:19.58, moving to #2 All-Time in UIC history.
• Jose Lozano (Burbank, Ill./Reavis) placed 8th in the 3000m, running 8:45.78.
• Amare Harris (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) secured 19th in the 60m with a time of 7.05.

 
Women
 

• Alessia Sarussi (La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township) won the Mile with a time of 4:54.25, breaking the school record set in 2013.
• Praise Oyebanji (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) placed 14th in the Mile, running 5:05.13 to earn the #9 spot on UIC's All-Time list.
• Daniela Martinez (Chicago, Ill./Lane Tech) finished 9th in the 3000m with a time of 9:52.94, setting a new school record previously held since 2014.

 
Up Next
 
The Flames will return home this week, and prepare for the first of two visits this season to Gately Park. Both programs will compete in the Blue Demon Holiday Invite next Friday, Dec. 13.
 
SUPPORT YOUR FLAMES
Fans are strongly encouraged to support NIL opportunities for UIC scholar-athletes through contributions to The Chicago Collective.
 
FOLLOW THE FLAMES
For more information on UIC's cross country and track & field 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).