Katie North running at CCIW Outdoor Championship 2021

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North Breaks 5000m Record on First Day of Dr. Keeler Invitational

North broke record previously held by Erin McCarey

5/13/2021 7:42:00 PM

Day One Results

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Senior Katie North (Aurora, Ill.-Metea Valley) broke the Illinois Wesleyan University women's track and field 5000m run record and fellow senior Ayana Blair (Wheeling, Ill.-Wheeling) posted a lifetime-best at the Dr. Keeler Invitational Thursday evening, May 13. With the incredible performances, North and Blair locked up spots at the NCAA Division III Championship meet later this month.

North broke a five-year old school record in the 5000m run, locking up a spot in the NCAA Division III Championship meet later this month. She raced to a third-place finish, more than 50 seconds ahead of the next Division III student-athlete, with a time of 17:12.48. Her time broke the previous mark of 17:20.38 set by Erin McCarey in 2016. North's time currently ranks 16th-best in Division III.

Blair notched a lifetime-best in the shot put with a throw of 13.84m. It is her second record-setting performance of the season, having previously set the discus standard earlier this year. Her throw is tied for sixth-best in Division III in 2021.

Kelsey Wyman (Monmouth, Ill.-Monmouth-Roseville), Addison Bendery (Chicago, Ill.-Loyola Academy), Cora Wilkinson (Verona, Ill.-Seneca), and Rebekah Harden (Tinley Park, Ill.-Lincoln-Way North) improved upon their 4x400 time with a third-place finish. The relay team clocked in a 3:53.16, the 11th-best time in Division III this season.

On the men's side, junior Cole Paraday (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East) placed third in the discus with a toss of 44.87m. In the 5000m run, sophomore J.D. Barrett (Tuscola, Ill.-Tuscola) and senior Matt Wagner (Palos Heights, Ill.-Marist) finished 10th and 11th, respectively. Barrett turned in a season-best time of 15:57.57, while Wagner finished in 16:14.68.

Day two of the Dr. Keeler Invitational is scheduled for tomorrow, May 14. Links on how to follow the meet can be found on the track and field schedule pages on IWUsports.com.

IWU Individual Results
# - denotes school record
^ - denotes lifetime-best
* - denotes season-best

Women's 5000m Run
3. Katie North 17:12.48#
12. Lexie Dorsey 18:56.08

Women's Shot Put
2. Ayana Blair 13.84m^

Men's Discus
3. Cole Paraday 44.87m

Men's 5000m Run
10. J.D. Barrett 15:57.57*
11. Matt Wagner 16:14.68

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