Following a record-breaking start to the 2011 season the Northern Illinois track and field team will look keep to its momentum going as the Huskies travel Saturday, Jan. 22, to Normal, Ill. to compete in the Redbird Invitational, hosted by Illinois State in Horton Field House.
Northern Illinois will begin competition at 11 a.m. with the shot put event. Running/Field events will begin at noon with the 60-meter hurdles preliminaries. The Huskies will face in-state rivals Illinois State and Western Illinois Saturday, and are looking forward to facing strong competition at the invitational.
“We are going into our third track meet of the indoor season,” said head track and field coach Connie Teaberry. “Now that we’ve had a couple of practices after returning from winter break we’re really looking to see how the girls transition back into competition. I think we’ll have a strong day of competition as we face Illinois State and Western Illinois. We’re ready to step up to the plate and ready to get some good competition in.”
The Huskies have competed in two events with much success this indoor season.
NIU opened its 2010-11 schedule on Dec. 10 at the Eastern Illinois Early Bird Invitational, where the Huskies captured two school records and two first-place titles. Nearly one month later, the Huskies opened 2011 in similar fashion, claiming the 200-meter dash school record and a first-place finish at the Wisconsin Track Classic January 15.
In the Huskies’ season opener, freshman Rachael Waldrop captured the NIU pole vault record (10”07’), Rhonda Lee tied her own 60-meter dash school record (7.70), and Roneisha Frye and Jenner Sio joined each raced to first place titles in their respective events.
The Huskies would not let a four-week hiatus from competition break their stride, as NIU saw Rasheta Butler record a school record in the 200-meter dash (25.32) and Janay Mitchell earn a first-place finish at Wisconsin.
Results from Saturday’s competition will be available on www.NIUHuskies.com upon the conclusion of the day’s events. The Huskies will continue action Saturday, Jan. 29, when they travel to Indiana Wesleyan for the IWU Invitational.
For more information on NIU track and field and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.
