BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- North Park Men's & Women's Track & Field competed at the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Indoor Championships on Friday and Saturday inside Illinois Wesleyan's Shirk Center. Both North Park teams placed ninth in the event but enjoyed a handful of strong performances.

Senior sprinter Riana Hayes realized plenty of success in both of her sprinting events. In the 60m Sprint, Hayes blazed ahead to first-place with a 7.59 to not only set a personal best but also reestablished her own school record in the event. The 7.59 mark in the 60m is currently the eighth-best time in Division III.

Hayes turned in another fantastic performance in the 200m, nearly breaking 25 at 25.05 to reel in another first-place finish and 10 more points for NPU. Not far behind her was senior Julia Klein who enjoyed a season-best mark of 26.35 to place 11th.

Freshman distance athlete Marley Gandee was another point scorer for the Blue & Gold, placing fifth in the Mile. She reeled in four points by placing fifth in the event, crossing the line with a personal best time of 5:16.72.

For the North Park men, freshman Albin Freiholtz was one of two scorers for the Vikings, gaining five points in the 800m. His time of 1:57.70 was good for fifth place while senior Ali Karatas was the next-best finisher for NPU with a 2:01.73 to place 15th.

Senior jumper Wesley McCloud was the other point scorer for NPU. McCloud grabbed three points in the High Jump, leaping 1.97m to place sixth in the event while setting a personal best.

Senior thrower Richard Covington placed 10th in the Weight Throw with a 14.47m heave and 18th in Shot Put with a 12.64m toss.

What's Next?

North Park will compete at Carthage's Firebird Finale on Friday, March 6, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Another batch of Vikings will compete at the UW-La Crosse Qualifier the next day, March 7.