CHICAGO (Jan. 10, 2025) - UIC is set to compete in their third meet of the 2024-25 indoor track and field season and first meet of 2025 this Saturday, January 11, as the Flames stay close to home for the Badger Midwest Invitational. UIC will look to continue its excellent start to the season and carry their early momentum into the new year.
 
MEET INFORMATION
 
Field events will begin at 1:45 p.m. (CT), with running events set to begin at 3:50 p.m. (CT).
 
The event will take place at the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center (10201 S Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago, Ill. 60628).
 
SCHOOLS COMPETING
 

• Chicago State
• DePaul
• Northern Illinois
• UIC
• Wisconsin
• Wisconsin-Milwaukee

 
FLAMES TO WATCH
Women

• Graduate student Alessia Sarussi (La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township) will compete in the 4x800m and 1000m. Sarussi holds the school record for the indoor mile, set earlier this season.
•  Sophomore Praise Oyebanji (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) will also compete in the 4x800m and 1000m. Oyebanji currently holds the indoor 600m school record.
• Senior Daniela Martinez (Chicago, Ill./Lane Tech) will compete in the 4x800m and 1000m as well, coming off of a record setting performance in the 3000m earlier this season.

Men

• Sophomore Theodore Cunningham (Palatine, Ill./Fremd) and sophomore Alexander Das (Oswego, Ill./Oswego East) will compete in the 4x800m and 1000m. Cunningham is second all-time in the 3000m for UIC, while Das is currently fourth all-time in the cross country 8k.
• Junior Zachary Barisa (Frisco, TX./Frisco Wakeland) will also be competing in the 4x800 as well as the 600m. Barisa is third all time in the 600m for the Flames.

 
BLUE DEMON HOLIDAY INVITE RECAP

• The Flames competed in their second meet of the 2024-25 indoor campaign last week in the Blue Demon Holiday Invite, setting several meet records.
• Theodore Cunningham placed first in the mile with a personal best of 4:13.47, earning the 5th spot All-Time in UIC history.
• Daniel Chavez (Berwyn, Ill./Morton) claimed 3rd in the 3000m with a personal best of 8:21.64, placing him 3rd All-Time in UIC history.
• Zachary Barisa finished 3rd in the 600m with a personal best of 1:22.15, placing him 3rd All-Time in UIC history.
• Praise Oyebanji took first in the 200m with a time of 1:32.02, setting both a new meet record and a new school record.
• Daniela Martinez won the Mile in 5:58.46, setting a new meet record and moving to 3rd All-Time in UIC history.
• Alessia Sarussi earned 3rd in the 600m with a time of 1:33.86, placing her 2nd All-Time in UIC history.

 
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).