The Northern Illinois track and field team closed out their weekend at the Lee Calhoun Memorial Invitational on a high note, taking four event titles Saturday in Macomb, Ill.
Despite holding several of their top performers out of the meet, the Huskies took third place in the 13-team field with 126 points. Marquette won the meet with 202 points, while host Western Illinois was runner-up with 165.5 points.
“We had some bright performances today,” said H
uskie head coach Connie Teaberry. “As a group, we need to show more consistency and continue to have high expectations, regardless of the weather or competition. We claimed third place without running the Friday events and one distance athlete, so knowing this keeps the ladies motivated.”
Janay Mitchell was the star of the day, winning two sprint events to add to her breakout season. The Teaneck, N.J. native took top honors in the 100 meters early in the day, blowing away the competition with a 11.88 run.
Running right behind her was teammate Rasheta Butler, who finished second with a time of 12.16.
Mitchell repeated that performance in the 200 meters, easily winning the event with a 24.35 run. Butler would again take the silver, crossing the finish line at 24.79. Roneisha Frye took fourth place at 25.19.
Speaking of Frye, she posted a first place finish in the 100 hurdles with a 14.18 clip for NIU’s third win on the day.
Erin Milner
The Huskies closed the day with a bang by winning the 4×400 relay. The quartet of Erin Milner, Jenelle McCalla, Erica Miller and Rebecca Cronin grabbed top honors with a 3:55.07 run, topping Western Illinois’ relay by over six seconds.
NIU registered some solid finishes in both 400 meter events, as well. Chanel Kellyman shattered her personal record with a 56.54 run in the 400 meters to take second place, while Cronin’s 58.31 clip was good for third place and Miller’s PR of 1:00.37 earned her fifth.
In the 400 hurdles, Milner finished in second place with a 1:03.46 time, while McCalla was third at 1:03.78.
For the second straight week, Sidra Sherrill impressed in the throws with two top-five finishes. The freshman from Fort Wayne, Ind. was second in the discus with a 134-07 (41.02m) throw and fifth in the shot put at 42-07.50 (12.49m).
Jenner Sio claimed the other top five finish for NIU in the field events, finishing second in the triple jump with a 38-00.00 (11.58m) leap.
The Huskies return to competition next week with split-squad action at two of the biggest collegiate meets in the nation. Most of the team will head to Lawrence, Kan., for the Kansas Relays, while the distance athletes travel to Walnut, Calif., for the Mt. SAC Relays.
For more information on NIU track and field and Huskie athletics,visit www.niuhuskies.com.
