Women's Track and Field | February 23

YPSILANTI, Mich. – Malia Watkins (Upper Marlboro, Md./Fredrick Douglass) of the Northern Illinois University women's track and field team advanced to the finals of the 200-meter dash with the fastest time of the prelims, highlighting Friday's first day of the 2024 Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships for the Huskies. 

"First day of competition down and we live to fight another day," said NIU Director of Track and Field Connie Teaberry. "Tomorrow we are sitting in solid positions in the events we are contesting. The staff ask that the athletes execute and compete and our outcome in their events will land points on the board. This is not a competition to think you can just show up and all will work out, they must believe in the work they have put in and that mental toughness is what makes champions."

Watkins advanced as the top seed in the 200 meters as she ran a time of 24.42 seconds, just two one-hundredths of a second off her season best time. Watkins advanced comfortably as the winner of heat five ahead of second-place Camryn Dunn of Miami (24.78). 

In the 400 meters, Roshell Rowe (Manchester, N.J./Manchester) recorded a season-best time of 57.28, finishing second in the second of six heats. Her time was not enough to advance however as Rowe finished 12th overall, missing the final by sixth tenths of a second. 

The MAC Indoor Championships will resume on Saturday, Feb. 24, beginning at 9 a.m. CT with the shot put. 

60-meter Dash
14. Malia Watkins, 7.66
20. Aasiyah Barr, 8.32

200-meter Dash
1. Malia Watkins, 24.42q

400-meter Dash
12. Roshell Rowe, 57.28
14. Talayssia Sanders, 57.58

800-meter Run
19. Kennedy Crawford, 2:22.10
20. Emma Vorpagel, 2:22.31

Mile Run
14. Julia Finegan, 5:13.94

Distance Medley Relay
12. Southby, Crawford, Vorpagel, Finegan, 12:40.99

Long Jump
15. Henriette Halwas, 5.48m (17-11.75)