KENT, Ohio – Kadeja Campbell (St. Ann, Jamaica) won the 400-meter dash as the Northern Illinois University women's track and field team earned a third-place finish at the Mid-American Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 26). The third-place team finish is NIU's third-straight top-three placing at the conference indoor championships and Campbell becomes the first Huskie to win the MAC indoor 400 crown.

"These Huskies gave a solid two days of competition," said NIU Director of Track and Field Connie Teaberry. "The days were not perfect, and they never will be in competition, however these ladies had each other's backs. When one faltered there was a teammate that stepped up. To claim third place with the holes we have right now says a lot about the athletes that are here. Every point makes a difference in the team outcome, and they worked hard to capitalize on every opportunity. Our staff is extremely proud of what these athletes were able to accomplish."

Campbell recorded points in three events on Saturday, including winning the 400 meters. Campbell posted a time of 54.58 seconds, just 0.04 seconds ahead of second place Fegor Clifford of Akron, to take the title. Jahnetta Jones (Romeoville, Ill./Romeoville) also scored for NIU in the 400, taking eighth in a time of 56.31 seconds. 

In the 200, Campbell was one of three Huskies to finish in the top-five as she just missed winning a second event, crossing the line in 24.10 seconds, just one one-hundredth of a second behind Akron's Amya Clarke for the win. Skylynn Blue (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) was fourth in 24.31 seconds while Malia Watkins (Upper Marlboro, Md./Frederick Douglass) was fifth in 24.48. 

Campbell, Jones and Watkins were joined by Kennedy Crawford (Douglasville, Ga./Alexander) in the 400-meter relay, where NIU picked up six more points with a third-place finish with a time of 3:47.50. 

NIU also picked up points in both the 60-meter dash and the 60-meter hurdles. In the hurdles, Scout Regular (St. Louis, Mo./Incarnate Word Academy) ran nearly a dead heat with Kent State's Mi'Angel Daniels for first and second with Daniels running 8.362 and Regular running 8.368, giving the Kent State sprinter the crown by six one-thousandths of a second. Kimone Hines (Hanover, Jamaica/Southern-New Orleans) was fifth in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.66 seconds. 

In the field events, Katrina Small (Atlanta, Ga./Arkansas-Pine Bluff) finished third in the triple jump with a mark of 12.50 meters (41-00.25). Small's best jump of the competition came on her sixth, and final, attempt. In the high jump, Taylor Ramsey (St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood Central) cleared 1.66 meters (5-05.25) on her second attempt at the height to tie for fifth place. 

NIU's 70 total team points is the fifth-best total in program history in the MAC Indoor Championships. The Huskies will now turn their attention to the outdoor season which begins in Texas March 24-26 at the Texas Relays in Austin and the Texas State Invitational in San Marcos. 

Team Standings
1. Akron, 117.5
2. Eastern Michigan, 84.5
3. NIU, 70
T4. Kent State, 68
T4. Toledo, 68
6. Ball State, 62
7. Miami, 58
8. Bowling Green, 48
9. Central Michigan, 35
10. Buffalo, 24
11. Western Michigan, 16
12. Ohio, 12

60-meter Dash
5. Kimone Hines, 7.66

200-meter Dash
2. Kadeja Campbell, 24.10
4. Skylynn Blue, 24.31
5. Malia Watkins, 24.48

400-meter Dash
1. Kadeja Campbell, 54.58
8. Jahnetta Jones, 56.31

60-meter Hurdles
2. Scout Regular, 8.368

4x400-meter Relay
3. Jones, Crawford, Campbell, Watkins, 3:47.50

High Jump
5. Taylor Ramsey, 1.66m (5-05.25)
16. Dymier Jeffery, 1.56m (5-01.25)

Triple Jump
3. Katrina Small, 12.50m (41-00.25)
12. Kendal Only, 11.56m (37-11.25)

Shot Put
22. Fatima Stingily, 10.76m (35-03.75)