CARBONDALE, Ill. – Closing out the 2025 season, the UIC track & field team took on fellow Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) schools at the MVC Outdoor Championships over the weekend at the Lew Hartzog Track & Field Complex. The Flames put together strong performances during the two-day meet, with 10 personal records set, 2 All-Conference athletes, and 2 new School Records coming out of the meet. Overall, both the men's and women's teams earned 10^th place. 
 
With their third-place performances, Daniel Chavez and Alessia Sarussi earned UIC's highest-ever overall finishes and became track & field's first-ever MVC All-Conference athletes in school history. 

MEN

• Daniel Chavez was the highest overall individual finisher on the men's side for UIC with a 3^rd place finish in the 5000m in a time of 14:27.44, earning him All-Conference Honors.
• The 4x100m relay team of Joseph Labib, Paul Sackman, Amare Harris, and Shmouel Sackman earned 6^th place with a time of 42.03.
• Olukolajo Sodipe placed 8^th in triple jump with a distance of 13.54m.

WOMEN

• Alessia Sarussi was the highest overall individual finisher on the women's side for UIC while setting a new UIC School Record in the 1500m with a time of 4:19.35, earning her third place and All-Conference Honors.
• The 4x400m relay team of Jorie Irving, Sarussi, Chinenye Ifeajekwu, and Praise Oyebanji set a new UIC School Record and earned 8^th place with a time of 3:52.92.
• The 4X100m relay team of Shania Potts, Nyarai Terry, Deja Richardson, and Irving placed 8^th with a time of 48.68.

COACH'S COMMENTS

"Our coaching staff is proud of the determination and effort our team competed with throughout the MVC Outdoor Championship weekend." said head coach Paul Zavala "We had several remarkable performances that led to our first-ever Individual All-Conference Honors and new school records. Overall, our program has taken a step forward in its competitiveness, and we are looking forward to continuing to elevate our student-athletes to stronger performances."
 
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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