ST. PAUL, Minn. - Several members of the University of Northwestern women's track and field team opened the 2026 indoor season on Friday evening at the University of St. Thomas Indoor Invitational.

Caroline Stokes (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) led the Eagles in the middle-distance events, finishing seventh in the 800 meters with a time of 2:49.26. She also competed in the mile, placing 16th, clocking a time of 6:03.06.

Also racing in the mile, Emery Maki (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing) recorded an eighth-place finish with a time of 5:31.81, while Natalie Van De Riet (Albertville, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville) opened her UNW track and field career with a 14th-place finish, crossing the line at 5:51.43.

In the field events, Lily Hubbard (Lindstrom, Minn./Chisago Lakes) placed eighth in the high jump, clearing 1.46 meters (4' 9.5"). Starting her second season with the Eagles, Hubbard successfully cleared each height on her first attempt before narrowly missing at 1.51 meters (4' 11.5").

Katie Shilts (Cameron, Wis./Cameron) made her collegiate debut in the jumps, finishing fourth overall in the triple jump with a mark of 9.96 meters (32' 8.25"). She also competed in the long jump, placing 18th with a jump of 4.51 meters (14' 9.75").

The full women's team will participate in the first official meet of the season on Saturday, January 24th at Macalester College, in the Vanessa Seljeskog Classic.