SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Jasmijn Raes, Roshell Rowe and Precious Umukoro picked up event victories as the Northern Illinois University women's track and field team opened the indoor season at Notre Dame's Blue-Gold Invite on Friday afternoon (Dec. 6). 

Raes took top honors in the high jump, Rowe claimed the title in the 400-meter dash while Umukoro was victorious in the long jump. 

"Today's competition at Notre Dame shows the work these athletes have put in over the summer and in four-and-a-half months on campus," said NIU Director of Track and Field Connie Teaberry. "Nervousness was definitely evident, but their ability to tap into their mental toughness was impressive to watch especially for our freshman.   

"We walk away with three wins from Roshell (Rowe), Precious (Umukoro) and Jasmijn (Raes). The two freshmen (Raes and Umukoro) literally jump onto the all-time NIU list, both claiming the third position and we had several PR's from other athletes as well. They literally left it all on the track. We still have some work to do but what a promising start from these 14 athletes."

In the 400, Rowe led a Huskie one-two as she ran an indoor personal-best time of 56.88 seconds. Emma Curry was second for the Huskies with a time of 57.09. 

Raes led NIU to three of the top seven spots in the high jump, clearing 1.75 meters (5-08.75) to take the title. Raes cleared that height in her second attempt to take the tiebreaker over Notre Dame's Madison Schmidt. Arianna Calloway finished fifth, clearing a height of 1.70 meters (5-07.00) while Kamiya Dendy took seventh at 1.65 meters (5-05.00). 

In the long jump, Umukoro leaped 5.95 meters (19-06.25) on her fourth attempt of the day to claim the title ahead of DePaul's Jaiah Hopf (5.88m). 

Along with the three event wins, NIU also took second in the 4x400-meter relay with the team of Rowe, Emma Curry, Olivia Southby and Esther Momalife running a time of 3:57.74, less than a second behind Butler's winning time of 3:57.08. 

NIU will resume its indoor season in the new year when the Huskies compete in the Wisconsin Midwest Invite in Chicago on Saturday, Jan. 11. 

60-meter Dash
5. Esther Momalife, 7.82
7. Samira Huber, 7.83
12. Precious Umukoro, 7.91
20. Samira Rosenfeld, 8.07

200-meter Dash
3. Esther Momalife, 25.25
6. Samira Huber, 25.94

400-meter Dash
1. Roshell Rowe, 56.88
2. Emma Curry, 57.09

1,000-meter Run
3. Rachel Dietrich, 3:09.59

High Jump
1. Jasmijn Raes, 1.75m (5-08.75)
5. Arianna Calloway, 1.70m (5-07.00)
7. Kamiya Dendy, 1.65m (5-05.00)

Long Jump
1. Precious Umukoro, 5.95m (19-06.25) 
10. Xiomara Malone, 5.11m (16-09.25)
11. Samira Rosenfeld, 4.85m (15-11.00)
12. Aniya Barton, 4.72m (15-06.00)

Shot Put
11. Ella Bertram, 11.53m (37-10.00)

4x400-meter Relay
2. Roshell Rowe, Emma Curry, Olivia Southby, Esther Momalife, 3:57.74