YPSILANTI, Mich. – Kamiya Dendy (Anderson, S.C./Pendleton) took second in the high jump, leading three Huskies in the top-four, as the Northern Illinois University women's track and field team concluded action at the MAC Indoor Championships on Saturday (March 1) at Bowen Field House. Jasmijn Raes (Amsterdam, Netherlands) took third in the high jump while Arianna Calloway (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs) finished fourth. 

NIU tied for ninth with Central Michigan in the team competition with 30 points, Bowling Green won the team title with 95 points. 

Precious Umukoro (Villarreal, Spain), who finished second in the long jump on Friday, scored today in the triple jump to claim MAC Women's Indoor Freshman Field Performer of the Year honors. 

"The athletes we brought to the MAC Indoor Championship gave everything they had for the team," said NIU Director of Track and Field Connie Teaberry. "Some performances ended in points and others did not, but the staff knows each one left it all on the track and that's all we can ask.

"The field event athletes gave us our edge with freshman Precious Umukoro leading the way with big points on the first day in the Long Jump and the second day as well. Her efforts earned her the Outstanding MAC Freshman Field Performance of the Championship and it was well deserved! Then our high jumpers swept the second through fourth positions adding 19 points to our point total what an amazing effort by Kamiya (Dendy), Jasmijn (Raes) and Arianna (Calloway). Then the 4x400 added the final point with two true shorts sprinters lending a hand without question. The staff looks forward to our young team competing outdoors and adding those at home back on the track. We are proud of this group of athletes and excited for our future."

In the high jump, Dendy was perfect on each of her first four attempts, clearing 1.76 meters (5-09.25), which was just one one-hundredth of a meter shy of her season-high, as she claimed second. Raes also cleared 1.76 meters (5-09.25), but two misses earlier in the competition gave her second behind Dendy via tiebreaker. Calloway cleared 1.72 meters (5-07.75) to finish fourth. 

Buffalo's Zahra Amos cleared a height of 1.81 meters (5-11.25) to win the title. Amos' height ranks 29th in the nation this season. 

Umukoro earned a seventh-place finish in the triple jump with a leap that measured 12.07 meters (39-07.75). Umukoro saved her best attempt for her sixth, and final, jump as she elevated herself into a scoring position. 

The Huskies also scored in the 4x400-meter relay as the quartet of Esther Momalife (Lagos, Nigeria), Roshell Rowe (Manchester, N.J./Manchester), Sam Huber (Villingendorf, Germany) and Sadiya Shamsid-Deen (McDonough, Ga./Sprayberry) posted a time of 3:55.35 to finish eighth. 

NIU will begin the outdoor season March 14-15 at the Myrtle Beach College Challenge in Myrtle Beach, S.C. 

Team Scoring
1. Bowling Green, 95
2. Akron, 79
3. Eastern Michigan, 77
T4. Ball State, 70.5
T4. Kent State, 70.5
6. Toledo, 64
7. Miami, 60
8. Ohio, 38
T9. NIU, 30
T9. Central Michigan, 30
11. Buffalo, 26
12. Western Michigan, 22

High Jump
2. Kamiya Dendy, 1.76m
3. Jasmijn Raes, 1.76m
4. Arianna Calloway, 1.72m

Triple Jump
7. Precious Umukoro, 12.07m
17. Aniya Barton, 11.27m

4x400-meter Relay
8. Momalife, Rowe, Huber, Shamsid-Deen, 3:55.35