IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Northern Illinois University women's track and field team earned three event victories on Saturday (Dec. 11) at the season-opening Jimmy Grant Invitational. Taylor Ramsey (St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood Central) took top honors in the high jump, Jazmyn Smith (Pinecrest, Fla./Gulliver Prep) won the long jump and Kennedy Crawford (Douglasville, Ga./Alexander) was victorious in the 600-meter run. 

"I was impressed with the way our athletes competed today," said NIU Director of Track and Field Connie Teaberry. "We had some respectable performances that will place several of the ladies in the top 10 on the MAC performance list. The athletes understand we have a long way to go. The winter break is not ideal for us, but the staff's anxiety goes down when we know we have a group of athletes that are hungry for success and they displayed that today."

Ramsey led a Huskie one-two in the high jump, clearing a mark of 1.70m (5-07.00) to take the top spot ahead of teammate Dymier Jeffery (Richmond, Va./South Carolina) who claimed second, clearing 1.65m (5-05.00). Ramsey did not miss on any attempt between 1.50 meters and 1.70 meters while Jeffery was perfect between 1.50 meters and 1.65 meters. 

"Taylor Ramsey has had a couple health issues this fall," said Teaberry. "So, to come out in the first meet, jump 1.70, win, and have great attempts at 1.75 is promising."

The Huskies also finished first and second in the long jump, where Smith posted a top mark of 5.93m (19-05.50). Smith's best leap of the competition came on her first attempt and was nearly a foot ahead of the rest of the field. Kenyae Majors (Burlington, N.C./Hugh Cummings) finished second with a mark of 5.68m (18-07.75) on her fourth jump of the day. 

"Jazmyn Smith had three long jump attempts that were decent," said Teaberry. "She won the event, however I know she has more once we clean up some technical issues."

Crawford earned the third event win of the day for NIU on the track, running a time of 1:38.43 in the 600 meters. 

The Huskies had runners qualify for the finals in both the 60-meter dash and the 60-meter hurdles. In the dash, Malia Watkins (Upper Marlboro, Md./Missouri State) ran a time of 7.66 seconds in the prelims and improved to 7.61 seconds in the final, finishing third. Scout Regular (St. Louis, Mo./Incarnate Word Academy) posted a time of 8.75 seconds in the prelims of the 60-meter hurdles and bettered that time by running 8.66 seconds in the final to claim fifth. 

"On the track, Scout Regular in the 60 hurdles, Malia Watkins in the 60 meters, and Kadeja Campbell in the 200 meters, showed their fall training with MAC leading times that have us to believing the best is yet to come," said Teaberry. "Their execution was good and will get even better. This is an awesome group of athletes, a pleasure to work with, and this season will be interesting.  The Huskies are coming!"

NIU will be back in action after the new year as the Huskies compete in the Bob Eubanks Open at Grand Valley State in Allendale, Mich., on Saturday, Jan. 15.

60-meter Dash
3. Malia Watkins, 7.61 (7.66q)
9. Skylynn Blue, 7.94
13. Katrina Small, 8.01
16. Kenyae Majors, 8.21

200-meter Dash
3. Kadeja Campbell, 24.63
5. Kimone Hines, 25.16
9. Skylynn Blue, 25.70
10. Scout Regular, 25.88

400-meter Dash
4. Jahnetta Jones, 57.85

600-meter Run
1. Kennedy Crawford, 1:38.43

1000-meter Run
7. Kayla La Fontain, 3:16.52

60-meter Hurdles
5. Scout Regular, 8.66 (8.75q)

4x400-meter Relay
4. Kennedy Crawford, Jahnetta Jones, Kadeja Campbell, Malia Watkins, 3:56.11
8. Dymier Jeffery, Scout Regular, Skylynn Blue, Kayla La Fontain, 4:15.83

High Jump
1. Taylor Ramsey, 1.70m (5-07.00)
2. Dymier Jeffery, 1.65m (5-05.00)

Long Jump
1. Jazmyn Smith, 5.93m (19-05.70)
2. Kenyae Majors, 5.68m (18-07.75)
11. Dymier Jeffery, 5.24m (17-02.25)
13. Kendal Only, 5.09m (16-08.50)

Triple Jump
3. Kendal Only, 11.55m (37-10.75)

Shot Put
10. Fatima Stingily, 11.69m (38-04.25)