Isabella Valenitn running the 60m hurdles
Steve Woltmann

Women's Track and Field

Field Events Pace Cardinals at Aurora Grand Prix

Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324

Results

CHICAGO (Jan. 24, 2026) - Competing in their first road meet of the season, the North Central College women's track and field team earned seven top-10 finishes, highlighted by freshman Yakyra Wilder's season-best toss in the weight throw to secure first place in the Aurora Grand Prix at Gately Indoor Track & Field.

Wilder's fifth throw vaulted her up the leaderboard to first place with a toss of 15.32 meters (50'3.25"), the second-best mark in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin so far this season and the 10th best mark in North Central history. Isi Aroko placed ninth in the weight throw with a mark of 12.40 meters (40'8.25").

Senior Gwen Berenyi delivered the 12th-best NCAA Division III mark in the pole vault with a 3.67-meter (12'0.5") performance. Jillian Beneke and Lily Wintergerst tied for fourth place with a 3.09-meter (10'1.50") mark.

Abranet Layne secured a top-10 finish in the long jump with her career-best mark. The senior took seventh place with a 5.29-meter (17'4.25") jump on her first leap of the day.

In the shot put, Mackenzie Conklin finished in eighth place with a throw of 10.69 meters (35'1") on her second toss of the day. Wilder followed closely in 10th place with a 10.67-meter (35'0.25") mark on her third throw.

Julia Kelly recorded a 10.63-meter (34'10.5") mark in the triple jump, good for eighth place on the day. On the track, Isabella Valentin ran 9.57 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles to finish ninth.

The Cardinals head north next weekend for the Squig Converse Invitational & Multi, hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. The two-day meet begins at 11 a.m. inside the Williams Center.
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Players Mentioned

Gwen Berenyi

Gwen Berenyi

Pole Vault
Junior
Jillian Beneke

Jillian Beneke

Pole Vault
Freshman
Abranet Layne

Abranet Layne

Junior
Isabella Valentin

Isabella Valentin

Hurdles/Jumps
Freshman
Lily Wintergerst

Lily Wintergerst

Jumps
Junior
Mackenzie Conklin

Mackenzie Conklin

Freshman
Isi Aroko

Isi Aroko

Freshman
Julia Kelly

Julia Kelly

Freshman
Yakyra Wilder

Yakyra Wilder

Freshman

Players Mentioned

Gwen Berenyi

Gwen Berenyi

Junior
Pole Vault
Jillian Beneke

Jillian Beneke

Freshman
Pole Vault
Abranet Layne

Abranet Layne

Junior
Isabella Valentin

Isabella Valentin

Freshman
Hurdles/Jumps
Lily Wintergerst

Lily Wintergerst

Junior
Jumps
Mackenzie Conklin

Mackenzie Conklin

Freshman
Isi Aroko

Isi Aroko

Freshman
Julia Kelly

Julia Kelly

Freshman
Yakyra Wilder

Yakyra Wilder

Freshman