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(Full results linked below)

Bloomington, IN - When it comes to NIRCA women’s track & field, the team championship has often been a Penn State vs. Illinois affair up front, and it was clear early on that 2016 would again be a battle between these two storied programs. The Illini’s narrow 1 ½ point victory in 2015 left us wondering if that level of competition could be replicated, but the 2016 team race came close. When the dust settled, Illinois would make it five consecutive team titles, scoring a 168-162 victory over their Penn State rivals. Michigan-Ann Arbor outlasted a strong Ohio State squad to take the final spot on the podium, scoring 77 points across 13 events.

2016 NIRCA Track & Field National Champions - Illinois

Illinois set the tone early with a win in the first event of the 2016 Championships when Meghan Mocogni breezed to the 5000 meter title on a chilly Friday night at the IU Track. The multiple-time NIRCA All-American in XC proved her speed on the track clocking 17:44 to beat out Indiana’s Emily Wagoner (17:55) and Michigan’s Allie Cell (18:08). Mocogni was not done putting her stamp on the distance events though, returning on Saturday to take the 1500 meter title in a near-record time of 4:49.91 (less than 1 second off Stephanie Resis’ mark set a year ago). Michigan State’s Erin Zimmer gave chase in second (4:51) but it was Mocogni pulling off the double title feat. UConn’s Erin Gibbons took third in the 1500 meters in 4:55.

Mocogni leads the 1500m

The 4x800 meter relay was the first event of 2016 to see a record come tumbling down. Anticipated to be a fast field of mid-distance relay runners, four clubs went under the 10-minute mark with Ohio State running away with the title and the meet record in 9:40.05. The Buckeye team consisted of Amanda King, Rita Mayer, Regina Gallagher and Emma Dalan. Penn State was second (9:51), Michigan State third (9:55), and Wisconsin fourth (9:59).

OSU\'s Emma Dalan hands off the baton

Speaking of Emma Dalan, the Ohio State star didn’t just earn a relay title but got an individual one too. Dalan defended her 400 meter hurdle title and bettered her own meet record in the event by over one second, crossing the line well ahead of the field in 1:05.30. Penn State’s Erica Filipovits was runner-up in 1:08.85 while Indiana’s Jaclyn Gill clocked 1:09.05.

In spite of the chilly temperatures throughout the day, it was a good meet to be a sprinter. And an even better one if your name is Lauren Jonen. The Illinois senior has made quite a name for herself throughout the years but 2016 was something special. Jonen started the meet with a close win in the 100m dash, edging out Virginia Tech’s Hannah Colbert by two-hundredths of a second. Jonen’s time of 12.59 lowered the previous meet record of 12.74 set two years ago by Haley Schlecter. In fact the top four finishers - Jonen, Colbert, Illinois’ Rebecca Haight, and Stanford’s Uwakmfon Ibekwe were all under the previous record mark.

Jonen and Haight of Illinois

Jonen and Haight returned later in the day for the 200 meter dash to go 1-2 in what would prove to be the event that vaulted the Illini women ahead for good in the close team race with Penn State. Jonen lowered her own meet record this time, winning in 26.11. Haight clocked 26.52 while Virginia Tech’s Colbert medaled again with a third place finish in 26.80. But Jonen wasn’t even close to being done.

Illinois flexed their muscle in the “longer” sprint race, going 1-2 again, this time in the 400 meters. Jess Ayers grabbed the event title in 1:00.37 but Jonen was right there in second 1:00.65. Penn State captured the next two spots with Amy Bogan (1:01.17) and Meghan Reynolds (1:02.98). Jonen anchored the winning Illinois 4x100 relay team that easily won the title in 50.90, joining Haight, Ayers and Abby Ralph. The same foursome would step back on the track in the final event of the day to lead Illinois to the silver in the 4x400 relay in 4:09.04. Taking second in the 4x100 relay was Ohio State in 52.93 and Penn State took the bronze in 53.07.

Penn State’s Emily Martone came close to the 800 meter title in 2015 and she wouldn’t be denied this time around, getting the individual win and anchoring a winning relay. Martone held off Indiana’s Wagoner in the 800 meters, crossing the line in 2:21.03 while Wagoner was runner up in 2:21.35 and MSU’s Zimmer was next in 2:23.91. Martone would then get relay gold with the 4x400 joining Reynolds, Bogan and Sarah Wolverton in a winning time of 4:08.48. Ohio State was third in 4:10.27.

Martone leads the 800m

Virginia Tech’s Paige Macauley defended her title in the 3000 meter steeplechase, winning this year in 11:26. UConn’s Gibbons, a 1500 meter medalist, was a distant second in 11:39 and Macauley’s Hokie teammate Amy Edgemond was third in 11:53.

The final record to fall on the track in 2016 came in the 100 meter hurdles but the name and school did not. Penn State’s Erica Filipovits defended her hurdle title and bettered her meet record, going 15.44 this year. UConn’s Cheyenne Haverfield was second (15.91) and Illinois’ Ralph third in 16.03.

PSU\'s Filipovits sets a new meet record

Michigan’s Lindsay Hendrickson was the only double winner in the field events, capturing both the long and triple jumps at the 2016 Championships. In the long jump Hendrickson soared to a mark of 16’10.5”, well ahead of runner-up Gabby Metzner of Bowling Green State (16’4.25”) and third place finisher Rebecca Haight of Illinois (16’3”). In the triple it was a two foot win for Hendrickson, who went 35’2”, over the Penn State duo of Cassandra Logeman (33’2”) and Erica Voight (32’10”). In the team race the horizontal jumps were a strong point for Penn State which had three long jumpers earn points and four triple jumpers in the top 9 of the event.

Penn State grabbed 1-3 in the high jump as Vanessa Romulus defended her crown, going 4’11.75”, and teammate Filipovits 4’9.75”. Wisconsin’s Sara Grange cleared the same height as Romulus but finished second on misses at previous heights.

PSU\'s Romulus retained her HJ title

The chess game continued in the field between the team leaders. While Penn State owned the jumps, Illinois owned the throws. The Illini scored a big win in the shot put with Tare Emuze throwing 30’9.75” to take the title over Georgia Southern’s Dominique Pontiflet (29’3.25”) and Penn State’s Rachel Kirby (28’5.5”). In the discus Illinois went 1-2-6 behind Diana Kowalski (91’9”), Ali Djokic (86’6”) and Emuze (70’8”). UConn’s Stephanie Sheehan was third in the disc with a toss of 84’4”.

No meet record fell in the field events this year.

Team Results

Individual Results

Women\'s Meet Records - NIRCA Track & Field Championship

New records in bold