SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Freshman Arianna Calloway (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs) won her third consecutive high jump title to begin her collegiate career as the Northern Illinois University women's track and field team competed at Notre Dame's Meyo Invitational this Friday and Saturday (Feb. 2-3). 

Calloway cleared the bar at 1.78 meters (5-10.00) to highlight the meet for the Huskies. Malia Watkins (Upper Marlboro, Md./Missouri State) and Skylynn Blue (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) both finished in the top-five in the 200 meters while Watkins also claimed a top-10 finish in the 60 meters. 

"This weekend definitely showed the hard work the athletes have been putting in since the return to campus," said NIU Director of Track and Field Connie Teaberry. "The Notre Dame Meyo competition is extremely competitive, mental expectations have to be in check or they will falter.  

"Our athletes in several events showed up and made huge improvements in their MAC standings and personal performances. We are in the portion of the season where their work ethic is either going to shine, even though practices are still hard, or those that have not tapped in will fall off. The staff is taking note of those we can depend on in the stretch. We will keep working until there is no questioning all of their improvements."

In the high jump, Calloway cleared each of her first four heights in her first attempt to claim the title ahead of second place Madison Schmidt of Notre Dame. Competing in the same facility where she set a school record of 1.80 meters earlier this season, Calloway was unable to improve upon that record with her three attempts at 1.83 meters, but she still holds the best mark in the Mid-American Conference, and tied for 29th nationally, this season. 

Watkins advanced through two rounds of prelims in the 60-meter dash to reach the final. In the opening round, Watkins ran 7.62 seconds to advance in fourth overall. She claimed eighth in the semifinal round with a time of 7.66 seconds before taking seventh in the final in 7.65. Blue advanced in ninth from the prelims with a time of 7.77 seconds before taking 13th in the semifinals in 7.83 seconds. 

The duo both earned top-five finishes in the 200 meters on Friday, with Watkins running a personal best time of 24.40 seconds, third-fastest in the MAC this season, to claim third. Blue also ran a time of 24.54 to claim fifth, posting the sixth-best time in the conference this season. 

In the championship section of the 400 meters, Talayssia Sanders (Waco, Texas/Central Arkansas) took sixth with a time of 57.15 seconds. 

Roshell Rowe (Manchester, N.J./Manchester) and Kennedy Crawford (Douglasville, Ga./Alexander) recorded top-20 times in the MAC, Rowe in the 400 meters and Crawford in the 800 meters. Rowe ran 57.50 in the 400, finishing 18th in the open section with the 19th-best time in the conference this year. Crawford was 19th in the open 800 with a time of 2:14.61, which ranks 15th in the MAC. 

NIU will return to action next Friday, Feb. 9, at the Wisconsin Windy City Invitational and the GVSU Big Meet. 


60-meter Dash Prelims
4. Malia Watkins, 7.62q
9. Skylynn Blue, 7.77q
27. Faith Rouse, 8.39
28. Ari Christian, 8.65

60-meter Dash Semifinals
8. Malia Watkins, 7.66q
13. Skylynn Blue, 7.83

60-meter Dash Final
7. Malia Watkins, 7.65

200-meter Dash
3. Malia Watkins, 24.40
5. Skylynn Blue, 24.54

400-meter Dash Championship
6. Talayssia Sanders, 57.15

400-meter Dash Open
18. Roshell Rowe, 57.50

800-meter Run Open
19. Kennedy Crawford, 2:14.61
26. Emma Vorpagel, 2:16.39

Mile Run Open
32. Julia Finegan, 5:08.88

4x400-meter Relay
7. Rowe, Sanders, Vorpagel, Crawford, 3:52.18

Distance Medley Relay
6. Southby, Dixon, Vorpagel, Finegan, 12:21.72

High Jump
1. Arianna Calloway, 1.78m (5-10.00)