Leah Raffety
Northern Illinois University seniors Rebecca Cronin (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) and Juliane Totzke (Graefenroda, Germany/Carl Zeiss Gymnasium) and sophomore Leah Raffety (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) has been named the the Mid-American Conference’s Indoor Track & Field Academic All-Conference Team, the league announced Tuesday.
In addition, Michaela Dwyer (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey), Erica Miller (Geneva, Ill./Geneva), Ali Olson (New Auburn, Wis./Bloomer), Hannah Savage (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Cedar Falls) and Natalie Tarter (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) all garnered honorable mention recognition.
“These ladies receiving the Academic All MAC and Honorable Mention is an honor,” said NIU head coach Connie Teaberry. “It is a testament to their work ethic as student-athletes academically and athletically. The staff is proud to have them represent NIU and the team with their acceptance of this prestigious award and know that their best is yet to come.”
Cronin, a business administration major, ran at seven meets in the Huskies’ indoor season and set the school record in the 600 meters at the Laker Early Bird, clocking in at 1:33.35 en route to a second-place finish. She qualified for the MAC Indoor Championships in the 800 meters, where she ran a season-best time of 2:10.56 in the prelims before claiming sixth in the finals at 2:12.01. Cronin also helped set the NIU record in the 4×400 relay at the MAC meet with a time of 3:47.15.
Juliane Totzke
Raffety, a pre-physical therapy major, ran distance at five meets during the indoor season, including winning the 3000 meters at the Ball State Quadrangular with a personal-best time of 10:21.11. The sophomore broke her personal record in the 5000 meters at the Indiana Relays with a 17:49.18 clip. Raffety finished 18th at the MAC Championships in the 5000 meters with a time of 17:58.72.
Totzke, a biochemistry major, ran distance at four meets and set a personal record of 17:31.56 in the 5000 meters at the Indiana Relays to finish fifth. She placed 15th in the 5000 meters at the MAC Championships to claim 15th place, while recording a season-best 3000 meters time of 10:19.73 at the GVSU Big Meet. Totzke opened the season by placing sixth in the 3000 meters at the Illini Classic (1/18), crossing the finish line at 10:20.23.
The Huskies return to action this week when they compete at the Penn Relays, Gina Relays and Lions Invitational. The competition starts Tuesday in Philadelphia with the heptathlon and runs through Saturday.
For more information on NIU track and field and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.
