DEKALB, Ill. – Senior Jehvania Whyte (Kingston, Jamaica/Vere Technical) of the Northern Illinois University women's track and field team heads to the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships this weekend in Austin, Texas. Whyte will compete in the triple jump, scheduled for Saturday evening, June 8, at 5:40 p.m., and available on ESPN3. 

The NIU senior advanced to Austin with a 10th place performance at the NCAA West Preliminary in Sacramento, Calif., two weeks ago. Whyte's best mark in Sacramento measured 12.89m (42-03.50) to punch her ticket to the NCAA Championships for the second consecutive season. Last year at the NCAA finals in Eugene, Ore., Whyte finished seventh to earn All-America honors. 

"Her practices have been great," said NIU Director of Track and Field Connie Teaberry. "Having the ability to practice outside, preparing for the elements of mother nature, has made a big difference. I'm expecting her focus to be on point because she's hungry. Physically, she is ready to go, and I know mentally she will give everything she has within her. 

"She has been here before, which is definitely an advantage, but so has 80 percent of the field. This is about who wants it the most and who is ready to compete."

Whyte will be in flight one of two, with 12 competitors in each flight. Following the first three jumps, the top nine athletes will advance to the finals. 

The Huskie record-holder in the triple jump both indoors and outdoors, Whyte is a four-time Mid-American Conference champion in the event, winning both indoors and outdoors in each of the past two seasons (2018, '19). A month ago, at the MAC Championships at Ball State, Whyte earned the fourth of her conference crowns with a jump of 12.42m (40-09.00), but this season hasn't been as straight forward for the Huskie All-American. 

"The journey this year for Jehvania to reach the NCAA finals was tougher physically and mentally than last season," Teaberry explained. "After her success last year, at the end, her knee flared up worse than it had all season. She took time off over the summer, but after beginning fall training it became aggravated again and we had to dial back her training significantly. 

"Things that gave her an edge indoor, the previous season, we could not do. But through the discomfort she continued to train as hard as she could. Grabbing the indoor MAC triple jump title was rewarding for her, but she was devastated when she didn't qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships. 

"Once the outdoor season began, she was able to tolerate more intense training which eventually led to another MAC title in the triple jump and her second time qualifying for the NCAA finals."

This year, Whyte's season-best mark of 13.33m (43-09.00) was set in Austin at the same venue as the NCAA Championships, Mike. A. Myers Stadium, at the Texas Relays (March 30). Her season-best leap is currently the 23rd-best in the nation this year.