DES MOINES, Iowa (April 28, 2024) – The UIC men's and women's track and field programs rewrote the record books during the 114^th Drake Relays on Friday and Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa. Going up against several nationally-ranked teams and Olympians, the Flames broke three school records (women's mile relay, women's sprint medley relay, men's sprint medley relay), while claiming top-10 finishes.
 
COACH'S COMMENT
"We had a memorable weekend filled with several outstanding performances and new school records," said head coach Paul Zavala. "By competing against several of the top programs in the country, we gained valuable experience for our young team as we head into the final weeks of our championship portion of our outdoor season."
 
TOP FINISHERS
Women

• Seniors Cailyn Persinger (Lee's Summit, Mo./Lee's Summit West/UMKC) and Daniela Martinez (Chicago, Ill./Lane Tech) kicked off the mile relay for their team before freshmen Indigo Sterud (Rockton, Ill./Hononegah and Praise Oyebanji (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) closed it out. The group set a new school record (20:21.45) and finished in seventh place.

School Record Alert ??

During yesterday's 4 x Mile at the Drake Relays, the Women's Distance Program took 7th Pl. & set a New School Record with 20:21.45 ????

Congratulations to the Relay Team of Cailyn, Daniela, Indigo, and Praise ?? pic.twitter.com/AMC1lSsKQX

— UIC XC_T&F ???????????? (@UIC_XCTF) April 27, 2024

• The sprint medley team, consisting of senior Olivia Dumas (DeKalb, Ill./DeKalb), freshmen Sariyah Watson (Dekalb, Ill./Dekalb), Chinenye Ifeajekwu (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) and Oyebanji clocked in a program-best time of 4:00.61. Their new school record also put them ninth in the race.

School Record Alert ??

During today's Sprint Medley Relay at the Drake Relays, the Women's Team took 9th Pl. & set a New School Record with 4:00.61 ????

Congratulations to the Relay Team of Olivia, Sariyah, Chinenye, and Praise ?? pic.twitter.com/m6hKyr4Zd1

— UIC XC_T&F ???????????? (@UIC_XCTF) April 27, 2024

 
Men

• Senior Sacrad Michelin (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) led the Flames in the sprint medley relay before handing the baton to a trio of freshmen — Amare Harris (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington), Jackson Irby (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) and Theodore Cunningham (Palatine, Ill./Fremd), who pushed forward for the new school record (3:31.86) and a seventh-place finish.

School Record Alert ??

During today's Sprint Medley Relay at the Drake Relays, the Men's Team took 7th Pl. & set a New School Record with 3:31.86 ????

Congratulations to the Relay Team of Sacrad, Amare, Jackson, and Theo ?? pic.twitter.com/dSs1CkK7I1

— UIC XC_T&F ???????????? (@UIC_XCTF) April 28, 2024

UP NEXT
The Flames will be in Bloomington, Indiana, next Friday (May 3) for the Billy Hayes Invitational. More information on the invite will be provided as it becomes available.
 
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