JOLIET, Ill. -- Led by University of St. Francis' individual title in the 4x800-meter relay event, five members of the USF women's track & field program contributed to the Fighting Saints' 26 total points at the 2025 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships over the weekend at Joliet Memorial Stadium. That landed USF an eighth-place finish among eight squads at the meet.
Olivet Nazarene University gained the team title with its 257 points, while Viterbo University was second with 178.5 and Saint Xavier University third with 133.
The relay team, consisting of
Dyannara Franco,
Evita Martinez,
Nicole Vollrath and
Lilia Hacker, dominated their field of seven competitors, finishing 8.31 seconds ahead of the second-place contender with a time of 9:37.18 for 10 points.
Franco and Martinez also secured 15 additional points for the Saints in the 1,500-meter and 800-meter runs. Franco placed third overall (4:48.52) in the former event for six points, while Martinez collected three points by finishing in sixth-place (4:57.68). In the 800m, Franco showcased a time of 2:25.91 for fourth place (five points), and Martinez clocked in at 2:32.92 for eighth overall (one point).
Lauren Manning gained the remaining individual point for USF with her eighth-place showing in the 400-meter run (1:03.51).
By placing in the top three in their respective events, Franco as well as Martinez, Vollrath and Hacker all secured all-conference honors.
Viterbo's Olivia Wingo garnered Outstanding Field Event Performer honors, while Olivet Nazarene's Tyler Parker claimed the Outstanding Track Event Performer accolades. Wingo was also named the meet's MVP.
Olivet Nazarene's Kyle Rago was named the CCAC Coach of the Year, while Viterbo's Nick Pergande was tagged as the league's Assistant Coach of the Year.
Up Next
The Saints are back in action next Friday and Saturday (May 9-10) when they host their own Fighting Chance Invite.
You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on X @USFSaints.
