NAPERVILLE, IL --- The North Central College Dr. Keeler Invitational is the best small college track in the nation the weekend following conference meet action.  The meet provides a great setting for athletes looking to improve on national meet qualifying marks, improve to a point of earning a spot at nationals, as well as racing as fast as ever.  This years edition of the event included over 1200 athletes from 85 colleges across 17 states, from Texas, Colorado, Florida, North Carolina and Virginia, as well as every state to Illinois.
 
Krissy Finley contested the 1500m run and improved on her school record with a time of 4:50.60.  Her previous best was 4:59.24 set at Millikin on April 8th.  Finley placed seventh of 15 in the second seeded section of the event.  Overall she was 18th of 62 runners.
 
Lexi Yoggerst competed in the 800m run and reclaimed her school record in the event.  Her time was 2:17.56.  Her previous best was set at Millikin at 2:19.89.  Finley broke that mark twice last weekend moving the mark to 2:19.39.  Yoggerst finished third of 11 runners in the fourth seeded section of the event and placed 21st of 68 athletes in the event.
 
Kelsey Cleary improved on her personal best in the 5000m by nearly one minute when she covered the 12 1/2 laps in a time of 20:38.39.  Her time broke the school record of 20:47 set by Alexandria Quarton set at Rhodes College on March 18th.  Clearly finished eighth of 17 runners in the unseeded section of the event, which placed her 43rd of 53 runners.
 
The final personal best of the weekend was turned in by Rachael Crowley in the 1500m run.  She ran 5:19.00 which earned her 13th of 18 in the second unseeded section.  Her previous best of 5:20.54 was set last spring at Greenville College.  She finished 39th out of 62 runners in the event.
 
UIS Coach Mike De Witt commented on the ladies team performances:  "We have talked about this meet during the outdoor season, working to make certain that they understood that short of earning a spot at the national meet, or flying across the country, this is the best meet for their current abilities.  It was great to see the exceptional job the group did.  The team understood that the seeded sections included athletes that will compete at Nationals, be All American, and in a few cases win a National Title at D II, D III, and NAIA.  We also did a much better job of having the feel that they belonged at the meet, as during the season we looked at the good athletes as out of reach.  They competed well, ran smart and strong races and have a much better feel that they are not far from competing in the best sections of this meet 365 days from now."  "It has been a season of knocking down goals and knowing we have a strong group returning, along with an even better recruiting class coming in.  Three months from now, the start of cross country will bring a better version of UIS Track and Cross Country."