NORMAL, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University women's track and field team claimed four event victories on Friday (April 2) at Illinois State's Redbird invitational. Junior Kaitlyn Lewis (Liberty, Mo./Liberty) took top honors in the 400 meters, senior Remy Amarteifio (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) was first in the 100 hurdles, junior Jazmyn Smith (Pinecrest, Fla./Gulliver Prep) claimed the long jump crown and junior Diamond Riley (St. Louis, Mo./Ritenour) took the triple jump title.

"The ladies really battled today," said NIU Director of Track and Field Connie Teaberry. "Not one complaint about the cool conditions and they still had impressive times and marks. The staff continually reminds the athletes that they must be ready to compete in whatever mother nature throws our way, and today it was evident that most of them listened. 

"Remy Amarteifio's focus allowed her to improve her MAC automatic qualifying 100 hurdle time as she claimed the win at Illinois State. There are still a couple technical issues we need to correct, but the effort was on point. While in the field, Jazmyn Smith grabbed first place, also putting up a mark that places her atop the MAC long jump performances and she has potential to go further."

In the 400, Lewis led three Huskies to top-five finishes with the first-place finish in 56.33 seconds. Sophomore Jahnetta Jones (Romeoville, Ill./Romeoville) was second in 56.54 while junior Kadeja Campbell (St. Ann, Jamaica/Southern-New Orleans) was fifth in 57.37.

Lewis' time is the sixth-fastest in the MAC this season, Jones' time is seventh while Campbell's is 11th.

"Our 400-meter group of Kaitlyn Lewis, Jahnetta Jones, and Kadeja Campbell had a windy run on the back stretch," said Teaberry. "However, their race strategies helped them to surge at the right point in the race. Kaitlyn Lewis ran away with the victory grinding it out to the end with confidence."

Amarteifio ran a time of 13.54 seconds, the fastest time in the conference this season, to win the 100 hurdles, comfortably ahead of second-place Mya Robinson of Illinois State (13.92). 

Smith was first in the long jump, one of three Huskies to finish in the top-eight. Smith's best mark of 5.92 meters (19-05.25) came on her second jump of the day and is the top mark in the MAC this season. Senior Kenyae Majors (Burlington, N.C./Hugh Cummings) also posted her best mark on her second jump of the competition, finishing third with a leap of 5.60 meters (18-04.50). Riley was eighth with a mark of 5.15 meters (16-10.75). 

In the triple jump, Riley posted a top mark of 11.65 meters (38-02.75) to take the top spot ahead of Milwaukee's Chieme Udaku (11.56m). 

Senior Brynn Bartlett (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) finished second in the steeplechase with a time of 11:40.25. 

"We had a couple athletes make their debut today," said Teaberry. "Brynn Bartlett in the 3000 steeplechase and Christina Wood in the discus both showed promise and are working toward their first MAC qualification.  While Diamond Riley in the Triple jump inked her win. The weather didn't stop the Huskies today and I'm proud of the discipline all the athletes showed today."  

Next Saturday, April 10, the Huskies will travel to Charleston, Ill., to compete in the Eastern Illinois Big Blue Classic. 

100-Meter Dash
7. Jazmyn Smith, 12.09

200-Meter Dash
7. Remy Amarteifio, 25.04

400-Meter Dash
1. Kaitlyn Lewis, 56.33
2. Jahnetta Jones, 56.54
5. Kadeja Campbell, 57.37

800-Meter Run
5. Julia Finegan, 2:19.18
8. Britnie Dixon, 2:21.24
10. Meagan Biddle, 2:21.89
19. Kayla La Fontain, 2:32.74

1,500-Meter Run
4. Nora Finegan, 4:43.93
6. Brooke Lytle, 4:45.28
7. Janae Dean, 4:46.39
12. Katelyn Robbins, 4:49.66
23. Maggie Cavanaugh, 5:06.03

100-Meter Hurdles
1. Remy Amarteifio, 13.54

400-Meter Hurdles
5. Kennedy Crawford, 1:03.07

3000-Meter Steeplechase
2. Brynn Bartlett, 11:40.25

4x400-Meter Relay
3. Dean, Jones, Crawford, Robinson, 4:04.34

Long Jump
1. Jazmyn Smith, 5.92m
3. Kenyae Majors, 5.60m
8. Diamond Riley, 5.15m

Triple Jump
1. Diamond Riley, 11.65m

Discus
7. Christina Wood, 40.20m
16. Fatima Stingily, 32.91m

Shot Put
8. Fatima Stingily, 11.81m
13. Christina Wood, 9.45m