Full Results

CHARLESTON, Ill. - The IUPUI men's and women's runners got back to competition when they took part in the EIU Friday Night Special inside Lantz Fieldhouse. Junior Aaron Kremer won the top male finisher in the mixed 5,000 meter run while Brittney McDuffee was the women's winner in the same race. 

Kremer's effort highlighted the men's indoor debut as he won the race in a time of 15:14.70. Behind him, teammate #J.D. Smith# clocked a time of 15:33.07 and Joe Hoffman crossed at 15:49.98 to capture the top three spots. 

Senior Evan Fruits was IUPUI's quickest entry in the 3,000 meter run, finishing in a time of 8:55.22, taking eighth of 42 runners. Sophomore Ricky Warren posted a time of 9:06.85 to place 19th and rookie Matt Farkas turned a time of 9:09.00. 

On the women's side, McDuffee's effort drew praise from Head Coach Joni Sanders as the junior hled off a late charging Annie Bellantone for the win. 

"It was a great race for Brittney," Sanders said. "(Bellantone) kind of reeled Brittney in, so she really had to push it to hold her off on the last mile. I think this was good for her because she doesn't always think she's the fastest, but she's such a strong runner."

McDuffee crossed in a time of 18:34.64 while Bellantone came in just fewer than six seconds later. Teammate Jennie Jamicich ran a time of 19:22.04 and Leann Fruits ran a 19:23.27. 

Michelle Williams trimmed significant time from her run last weekend, finishing with a personal record 19:40.36 while Rebecca Downs came in at 19:56.10. Fellow freshman Kaci Verkamp made her spring debut with a time of 20:08.51.

In the one mile run, rookie Rachel Zajac placed eighth of 25 runners in a time of 5:17.56 and sophomore Allie McGraw came in at 5:34.10. 

"Rachel looked really, really good. She was in the faster of the two heats and she really competed," Sanders said. "Allie was right with Rachel for six of the eight laps."

Ana Paez was IUPUI's lone entry in the 3,000 meter run and placed fourth of 17 runners in a time of 10:33.08. 

"She's such a racer; you could just see the fight in her eyes," Sanders added. "A girl from Southern Indiana, which ran in the D2 nationals, tried to run her down and Ana just held her off. I thought she ran extremely well."

The women's team capped the evening with a win in the distance medley relay, beating the only other entrant from Lincoln College by nearly a minute. Fruits led off with the 1,200, followed by McGraw in the 400. McDuffee slammed the door on the competition during her 1,600 meter leg before Zajac brought home the win. 

"It was fun for the girls," Sanders said.

Both teams will focus on training during the month of March before returning to competition on Apr. 3 at the Mike Poehlein Invitational in West Lafayette, Ind..