FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Arianna Calloway (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs) of the Northern Illinois University women's track and field team cleared a season-best height of 1.76 meters (5-09.25) in the high jump on Saturday afternoon (May 25) in the NCAA West First Round. Calloway finished 23rd overall in the 48-jumper field. 

"What an awesome day of competition from Arianna at the NCAA West Prelim," said NIU Director of Track and Field Connie Teaberry. "She did not get a bid to the final round, but what a great accomplishment to enter (seeded) 47th and finish 23rd, along with setting a personal best outdoors. Her focus and execution was on point and she did what I asked; competed with confidence in the work she had put in without letting her nerves take over."

After clearing the opening height of 1.66 meters (5-05.25) on her first attempt, the NIU freshman needed her third, and final, chance to make the second height of the day at 1.71 meters (5-07.25). Calloway cleared her season-best height of 1.76 meters (5-09.25) on her second attempt before bowing out of the competition with the bar at 1.81 meters (5-11.25). The top-12 overall in the field advanced to the NCAA Finals in Eugene, Ore., in June. 

Despite not advancing, Calloway bettered her previous season-best of 1.74 meters (5-08.50), which was set on March 28 as she claimed the title at Texas State's Bobcat Invitational. Calloway's new season-best is the third-best outdoor mark in NIU program history, and she finished fifth among the 13 freshmen in the field at the NCAA West First Round. 

"We will continue to practice to see if Arianna qualifies for the Olympic Trials in three weeks. But as she and I look to the future, she will clean up some things off the track and I'm going to have some new training surprises for her working on explosion. I'm extremely proud of her and look forward to seeing what the next three years bring!"

Should Calloway qualify, the U.S. Olympic Trials will take place June 21-30 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.