NAPERVILLE & NORMAL, Ill. – North Park Track & Field sent split groups to the North Central First Chance Invitational and Illinois State's Redbird Challenge this past weekend, the Vikings' first outdoor meets of 2025.

Redbird Challenge

The Women's 4x100m team placed second of six teams, second only to Division I Northern Illinois University. The Vikings ran the current 19^th-best time in Division III with a 48.83 and set a new all-time record at North Park. That relay team is made up of Marianna Costa, Riana Hayes, Thea Ring, and Meja Lindberg.

Ring was 4^th in the 100m Hurdles, PR'ing with a time of 14.42. She was the top Division III performer in the event and that time is good for fourth in the nation this season. It's also a new all-time record at North Park, besting Elise Ruud's 14.71 from 2019.

Hayes placed sixth in the 100m Dash with a time of 12.31. That mark currently ranks 17^th in Division III. Meja Lindberg was right behind her with a time of 12.33, good for 19^th in Division III this season.

Newcomer John Sassan made a splash in the Javelin, placing third with a personal record of 52.10m. He was one of just two Division III competitors to place in the top 10, in front of Monmouth's Colton Hutson (7^th, 44.88m). Sassan's throw ranks 42^nd in Division III.

First Chance Recap

• Wesley McCloud the headliner – a 1.90m leap in the high jump to place T3
• Mason Wilson 17^th of 59 in Shotput – 12.37m
  • Richard Covington 27^th – 11.16m
• Hans Hoglund nears top 10 in Javelin – 43.48m was a PR and placed him 11^th of 49
• Jayla Sotelo was 39^th of 71 in the 200m Finals with a PR of 27.95.
• Sotelo 23^rd of 33 in the 400m – 1:06.76
  • Jaclyn Little right behind her in 27^th – 1:09.20
• Lauren McKnight heaves Shotput 10.43m, placing 23^rd of 59
  • Rian Hobbs 39^th at 8.95m
• James Boldware 17^th of 103 in the 100m with a PR of 11.01
• Jordan Brazil 44^th of 110 in the 200m, also PR'ing at 23.17
• Giovanni Martinez 49^th of 72 in the 800m – 2:09.83
• Ali Karatas 61^st of 109 in the 1500m – 4:27.92
• Covington 23^rd of 59 in Discus – 35.09m

What's Next?

North Park makes the short drive to Elmhurst for the Chicagoland Championship this Friday and Saturday, April 4-5.