CLEVELAND -- Kadeja Campbell (St. Ann, Jamaica) of the Northern Illinois University women's track and field team was named the Most Outstanding Track Performer for the 2023 Mid-American Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, announced by the league office on Thursday (March 1). 

Campbell won three conference titles at the Indoor Championships, taking individual honors in the 200 and 400 meters while also competing as part of NIU's 4x400-meter relay championship quartet. The St. Ann, Jamaica native became just the second Huskie to ever win three conference championships at the same MAC Indoor meet, joining Ashley Tutt who claimed the mile, 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters at the 2021 Indoor Championships. 

"Kadeja has overcome a lot in the last year," said NIU Director of Track and Field Connie Teaberry. "Her outdoor season in 2022 was halted by a reoccurring hamstring injury and her accomplishments at the 2023 Indoor MAC Championships were due to her trusting the rehab process, trusting me as her coach, and her willingness to put in the work to return to competitive competition.  

"I am extremely proud of Kadeja and the way she has overcome her adversaries and the determination she has had the last nine months to get back on the track. This award is voted on by the MAC head coaches which should give her pride that they also recognize her work ethic to complete the performances she has thus far, and we are grateful.  

"Being named the MAC Indoor Most Outstanding Women's Track Athlete is a huge accomplishment and even sweeter because I know how hard she has worked for this honor. This is an exciting moment for Kadeja, the team, and NIU Athletics. I can't wait to see what the outdoor season holds for Kadeja Campbell."

In the 200 meters, Campbell ran a converted school record time of 23.71 seconds in the final, becoming the first Huskie to win the 200-meter dash at a MAC Indoor Championship. 

Campbell repeated as the conference indoor champion in the 400 meters with a winning time of 56.23 seconds. She is just the third Huskie to repeat as a MAC Champion at the indoor championships, joining Jehvania Whyte who won the triple jump three years in a row (2018, '19, '20) and Tutt who won both the 3,000 and 5,000 meters back-to-back (2020, '21).

The quartet of Campbell, Christine Irving (St. James, Jamaica), Jahnetta Jones (Romeoville, Ill.) and Roshell Rowe (Manchester, N.J.) claimed the 4x400-meter relay title in 3:50.19 to cap the meet and give Campbell her third conference crown. This was the second time NIU has won the 4x400-meter relay at the MAC Indoor Championships, with the first coming in 2015. 

The Most Outstanding Performer award for Campbell marks the fourth time in the last six years the Huskies have garnered the award. Whyte was named Most Outstanding Field Performer in 2018 while Tutt received Most Outstanding Track Performer honors in 2020 and 2021. 

Campbell was also named to the All-MAC First Team recognition in the 200, 400 and 4x400 relay, she is joined by Irving, Jones and Rowe on the all-conference first team as winners of the 4x400-meter relay. 

NIU will be back in action on Friday and Saturday, March 17-18, when it begins outdoor season in Atlanta, Ga., at the Yellow Jacket Invite.