CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University women's track and field team won eight events, including two by junior Remy Amarteifio (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township), as the Huskies competed in the Eastern Illinois Friday Night Special, their final meet before next weekend's conference championship. 

"Eastern Illinois was a great tune up competition for the MAC Championships next week," said Director of Track and Field Connie Teaberry. "The athletes made needed corrections to their technique that allowed many of them to accomplish improvements to their MAC standings.

"Syanne's (Johnston) 60-meter race show strength from the start to the finish in both the prelims and finals which allowed her to achieve a new PR and the MAC auto standard. Remy (Amarteifio) also PR'ed in the 60 meters and improved her MAC auto standing in the 60 hurdles, improving her start in both races helped improve her performances. 

"We had seven other personal records set today, which shows the focus of the team today. The athletes will take what they have accomplished today and enter the championships next week with confidence."

Amarteifio won the hurdles with a time of 8.39 seconds, the third-fastest time in the conference this season, comfortably ahead of second-place Pedra Hicks who finished in 8.74 seconds. Amarteifio also took first in the 200 meters in 25.63, Indiana State's Esther Chuckwunwike was second in 25.91. 

Sophomore Syanne Johnston (St. Peters, Mo./Fort Zumwalt East) took first in the 60-meter dash, tying the eighth-best time this season in the conference at 7.59 seconds. Johnston was one of three Huskies to finish in the top-four as Amarteifio was third in 7.62 and Tilmon was fourth in 7.68. 

The Huskies were one-two in the 400 meters where junior Grace Harris (Dousman, Wis.) was first in 58.81 and junior NeShay Curtis (St. Louis, Mo./McCluer South Berkeley) was second in 59.28.

Freshman Hannah Ricci (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) won the mile in 5:04.73 while other winners on the track included sophomore Nora Finegan (Palatine, Ill./Fremd) in the 600 meters in 1:36.27 and sophomore Brynn Bartlett (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) in the 1,000 meters with a time of 3:10.73. 

Freshman Taylor Ramsey (St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood Central) also gave the Huskies an event victory in the field by clearing 1.66m to win the high jump, the seventh-best mark in the conference this season. Kara Cooke and Amiyah James of Indiana State tied for second, clearing 1.60m. 

NIU will now turn its attention to the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships, next Friday and Saturday, February 22-23, at Kent State. 

"These next six days are critical," said Teaberry. "Rest, recovery and mental preparation all play a key part in their success. We are a young, but talented team, with these improvements and execution, we should continue to see times lower and jumps farther. 

"Next week will not be easy, the athletes will have to duplicate or better their performances to score, but we know they are ready for the challenge."


60-meter Dash
1. Syanne Johnston, 7.59 (f), 7.60 (pre)
3. Remy Amarteifio, 7.62 (f), 7.71 (pre)
4. Taylor Tilmon, 7.68 (f), 7.75 (pre)
9. Courtney Sockwell, 8.00

200-meter Dash
1. Remy Amarteifio, 25.63
7. Aniese Phillips, 26.46

400-meter Dash
1. Grace Harris, 58.81
2. NeShay Curtis, 59.28

600-meter Run
1. Nora Finegan, 1:36.27

1,000-meter Run
1. Brynn Bartlett, 3:10.73

Mile Run
1. Hannah Ricci, 5:04.73
5. Meagan Biddle, 5:14.11
8. Mercer Mack, 5:29.41
11. Maggie Cavanaugh, 5:32.09

3,000-meter Run
6. Mercer Mack, 11:11.24

60-meter Hurdles
1. Remy Amarteifio, 8.39 (f), 8.50 (pre)
4. Aniese Phillips, 8.79 (f), 8.93 (pre)
12. Taylor Ramsey, 9.39

High Jump
1. Taylor Ramsey, 1.66m

Long Jump
3. Diamond Riley, 5.65m
4. Jazmyn Smith, 5.56m

Shot Put
13. Fatima Stingily, 12.10m
19. Christina Wood, 10.65m

Weight Throw
19. Fatima Stingily, 11.67m