CHICAGO (July 24, 2024) – The UIC cross country and track & field teams announced Wednesday the addition of 17 student-athletes to their programs. The Flames will welcome four distance runners on the men's cross country team, six cross country runners for the women's team, two male sprinters, four female track athletes, and a high and long jumper.
"Our coaching staff is excited with the new additions to our program as we prepare for another competitive year in the Missouri Valley Conference," said head coach
Paul Zavala. "We have a very competitive recruiting class looking to represent the Flames at a high level and thrilled to have them all arrive on campus this Fall."
Below is a list of the future Flames, along with a brief biography of their accomplishments.
MEN (Distance):
Zachary Barisa (Frisco, Tex./Frisco Wakeland/Illinois Tech)
- 2x NACC Indoor Track & Field Championships All-Conference Honors
- 2x NACC Outdoor Track & Field Championships All-Conference Honors
- Personal Records: 1:54 (800m)
Zachary Close (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley)
- 3x IHSA 3A State Cross Country Championship Qualifier
- 2x IHSA 3A State Cross Country Championship All-State Honors
- 3x IHSA 3A State Track & Field Championship Event Qualifier
- 2x IHSA 3A State Track & Field Championship All-State Honors (3200m)
- Personal Records: 4:19 (1600m), 9:05 (3200m), 14:22 (3 Mile)
Brady Kataoka (Chicago, Ill./Northridge Prep)
- 2x IHSA 1A State Cross Country Championship Qualifier
- 1x IHSA 1A State Cross Country Championship All-State Honors
- 1x IHSA 2A State Track & Field Championship Event Qualifier
- 1x IHSA 2A State Track & Field Championship All-State Honors (1600m)
- Personal Records: 4:23 (1600m), 15:16 (3 Mile)
MEN (Sprints & Jumps):
Joseph Labib (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley)
- 2x IHSA 3A State Track & Field Championship Event Qualifier
- Personal Records: 10.86 (100m), 22:11 (200m)
Aiden Rodriguez (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet West High School)
- 1x IHSA 3A State Track & Field Championship Event Qualifier
- Personal Records: 11.09 (100m), 22:34 (200m)
Olukolajo Sodipe (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley)
- Personal Records: 5' 11.5" (High Jump), 21' 8.25" (Long Jump), 43' 9" (Triple Jump)
WOMEN (Distance):
Jadie Chavez (Chicago, Ill./St. Laurence)
- 3x IHSA 2A State Cross Country Championship Qualifier
- 6x IHSA 2A State Track & Field Championship Event Qualifier
- Personal Records: 2:27 (800m), 5:25 (1600m), 11:39 (3200m), 18:20 (3 Mile)
DenaMarie Gonzales (
New Berlin, Wis./New Berlin Eisenhower)
- 3x WIAA State Cross Country Championship Qualifier
- Personal Records: 2:33 (800m), 20:37 (5000m)
Korima Gonzalez (Dekalb, Ill./Dekalb)
- 1x IHSA 3A State Cross Country Championship Qualifier
- 3x IHSA 3A State Track & Field Championship Event Qualifier
- Personal Records: 2:15 (800m), 5:22 (1600m), 18:26 (3 Mile)
Kenya Perez (Chicago, Ill./Amundsen)
- Personal Records: 2:38 (800m), 5:49 (1600m), 20:40 (3 Mile)
Alessia Sarussi (LaGrange, Ill./Lyons High School/Washington University – St. Louis)
- 3x NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships Qualifier
- 4x NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships All-American Honors
- 1x NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Champion - Distance Medley Relay
- 4x NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships Qualifier
- 2x NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships All-American Honors
- Personal Records: 2:09 (800m), 4:27 (1500m), 5:10 (Mile)
Tianna Wilson (Columbia, Md./Atholton)
- 2x MPSSA 3A State Cross Country Championship Qualifier
- 5x MPSSA 3A State Track & Field Championship Event Qualifier
- 1x MPSSA 3A State Track & Field Championship All-State Honors
- Personal Records: 2:22 (800m), 5:38 (Mile), 20:13 (5000m)
WOMEN (Sprints & Jumps):
Jorie Irving (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso)
- 2x IHSAA State Track & Field Championship Event Qualifier
- 1x IHSAA State Track & Field Championship All-State Honors
- Personal Records: 10.86 (100m), 59.73 (400m)
Alayna Filipiak (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods)
- 1x IHSA 2A State Track & Field Championship Event Qualifier
- 1x IHSA 2A State Track & Field Championship All-State Honors
- Personal Records: 1:02.58 (400m), 50.16 (300m Hurdles)
Elsie Kern (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park)
- Personal Records: 1:04.34 (400m), 48.61 (300m Hurdles)
Brianna Stark (Chicago, Ill./Noble/ITW Speer)
- 2x IHSA 2A State Track & Field Championship Event Qualifier
- 1x IHSA 2A State Track & Field Championship All-State Honors
- Personal Records: 12.72 (100m), 26.52 (200m), 57.74 (400m)
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).
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