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Track, field trio garners Academic All-MAC nod

June 19, 2012

Northern Illinois track and field senior Jenner Sio and juniors Jenelle McCalla and Courtney Oldenburg were named to the 2012 Outdoor Track & Field Academic All-Mid-American Conference team, the league office announced Tuesday.

Sio and McCalla earned the honor for the second consecutive outdoor season, while Oldenburg made her debut after taking honorable mention recognition a season ago.

Jenner Sio, Jenelle McCalla and Courtney Oldenburg

Jenner Sio, Jenelle McCalla and Courtney Oldenburg

“Our coaching staff has great pride in our student-athletes’ academic – as well as their athletic – accomplishments,” said NIU head coach Connie Teaberry.

“These three ladies have led the way for the team’s success in both. Jenner, Jenelle and Courtney work diligently to maintain a high standard of excellence and, because of their dedication, they will succeed. I’m glad they are representatives of the team, athletic department and the NIU institution and we are proud that they are Huskies.”

Sio, a management major with a 4.0 GPA, broke the NIU record in the triple jump with a 40-02.00 (12.24m) leap at the 103rd annual Drake Relays.

In addition, the Rockford, Ill., native finished no worse than seventh at every meet during the outdoor season, while taking top five finishes at the Lee Calhoun Memorial Invitational (second), Chicagoland Championships (third), UCF Black & Gold Challenge (fifth) and Kansas Relays (fifth). Sio also posted an impressive sixth place finish at the highly-competitive Texas Relays with a 39-08.50 jump and claimed a seventh place finish at the MAC Championships.

McCalla, who maintains a 4.0 GPA in psychology, posted four top five finishes in the 400 hurdles during the outdoor season, including a season-best second place showing at the UW-Whitewater Alternative Meet. The Whitby, Ontario, Canada, native placed third at both the Chicagoland Championships and the Lee Calhoun Memorial Invitational, on top of a fifth place showing at the UCF Black & Gold Challenge.

Oldenburg, boasting a 3.864 GPA in nursing, broke the school record in the 1500 meters with a time of 4:27.64 at the prestigious Mt. SAC Relays.

The native of West Salem, Wis., also won the 1500 meters at the UCF Black & Gold Challenge and claimed fifth place in that same event at the MAC Championships. Outside of her strongest event, Oldenburg raced to a second place finish in the 800 meters with a personal-best time of 2:15.43 at the Chicagoland Championships.

Along with the trio of Sio, McCalla and Oldenburg, sophomore Erica Miller was named to the honorable mention list.

The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.

For more information on NIU track and field and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.