Inniss Leads UIS at IC Thursday Throwdown

Prairie Stars women's track team shines in 1500 meters

Apr. 3, 2026 at 8:08am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a women's track and field competition, with overlapping planes of color representing the athletes and the track surface.The UIS women's track team's strong showing in the distance events at the IC Thursday Throwdown showcases their determination and talent.Springfield Today

Kaleigh Inniss of the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) women's track team won the 1500 meters event at the IC Thursday Throwdown meet with a time of 5:02.51. Her teammate Marissa Roggensack finished second, giving UIS the top two spots in the distance race. The Prairie Stars also had a strong showing in the 4x400-meter relay, finishing third.

Why it matters

The IC Thursday Throwdown was an important early-season meet for the UIS women's track team, providing valuable competition experience and an opportunity to assess their progress ahead of the rest of the season.

The details

In addition to Inniss' win in the 1500 meters, Audrey Wagoner ran 2:49.65 for 13th place in the 800 meters, and the UIS 4x400-meter relay team finished third with a time of 5:25.75. Despite challenging windy conditions, the Prairie Stars demonstrated their strength in the distance events.

  • The IC Thursday Throwdown took place on April 2, 2026.

The players

Kaleigh Inniss

A member of the University of Illinois Springfield women's track team who won the 1500 meters event at the IC Thursday Throwdown.

Marissa Roggensack

A member of the University of Illinois Springfield women's track team who finished second in the 1500 meters event at the IC Thursday Throwdown.

Kali Gaden

A member of the University of Illinois Springfield women's track team who finished ninth in the 1500 meters event at the IC Thursday Throwdown.

Audrey Wagoner

A member of the University of Illinois Springfield women's track team who ran 2:49.65 for 13th place in the 800 meters event at the IC Thursday Throwdown.

Kaitlin Skeate

The assistant coach of the University of Illinois Springfield women's track team, who praised the team's effort despite the challenging conditions at the IC Thursday Throwdown.

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What they’re saying

“It was a windy day on the track today and we're in a thick block of training, but I'm proud of our women for competing hard. I'm excited to see what the rest of the season brings for them!”

— Kaitlin Skeate, Assistant Coach

The takeaway

The UIS women's track team demonstrated their strength in the distance events at the IC Thursday Throwdown, with Kaleigh Inniss and Marissa Roggensack leading the way in the 1500 meters. The team's performance, despite the challenging conditions, suggests they are well-positioned for a successful season ahead.