Western Illinois University Leathernecks Women’s Track and Field announced on Apr. 29 that the team is preparing to compete at the Musco Twilight meet, which will take place May 1-2 in Coralville, Iowa, hosted by Iowa.
The upcoming event follows a successful weekend for the Leathernecks, who achieved multiple event victories, personal records, and a school record across competitions at the Drake Relays, Kip Janvrin Open, and Monmouth College. Notable performances included Kelly Fern’s wins in pole vault events and Kelsey Hutchins moving to sixth all-time in the triple jump for Western Illinois. The team’s distance medley relay also set a new school record during their recent outings.
The Musco Twilight will feature men’s teams from several institutions including Hevel Track Club, State Fair Community College, University of Chicago, Creighton University, Cornell College, Grinnell College, Iowa, Drake University, Northern Iowa University and Western Illinois. Women’s teams competing include Creighton University, Iowa, Cornell College, Drake University, Lindenwood University (Missouri), Northern Iowa University and Western Illinois.
The Western Illinois University Leathernecks Women’s Track and Field team participates in NCAA Division I competitions as part of the Ohio Valley Conference according to the official website. The program operates from Macomb, Illinois according to the official website.
Western Illinois has built its women’s track program on a long legacy dating back to the early 1900s with an emphasis on growth and competitiveness according to the official website. In recognition of academic achievements among student-athletes in 2025, the team earned All-Academic Team honors from USTFCCCA according to the official website.
The women’s track program is an integral part of Western Illinois University’s broader athletics offerings according to the official website, maintaining a full roster for the 2025–26 season that includes both freshmen and upperclassmen athletes according to the official website.
After competing at Musco Twilight this week in Coralville against regional programs such as Iowa and Drake universities among others—both men’s and women’s squads—the Leatherneck track teams are scheduled to finish their regular season next week at Northern Illinois University’s Huskie Classic.
