NORMAL, Ill. – Joy Jackson (North Aurora, Ill.), Jasmijn Raes (Amsterdam, Netherlands) and Precious Umukoro (Villarreal, Spain) each posted a runner-up finish as the Northern Illinois University women's track and field team competed at The Normal Invite at Illinois State on Saturday (April 12). Jackson took second in the 5,000 meters, Raes was the runner-up in the high jump and Umukoro finished second in the triple jump. 

"Another solid day of Huskie Track and Field at Illinois State," said Director of Track and Field Connie Teaberry. "We are beginning to show solid technique and race strategy. Our execution is sharpening in every event. The athletes, each weekend, keep getting stronger, faster and more confident with each competition. Our next two competitions are high-powered, and I believe after watching the athletes today we are prepared to give a competitive showing."

In the high jump, NIU had three finishers in the top-five with Raes claiming second with a season-best height of 1.74 meters (5-08.50), tied for second-best in the Mid-American Conference this season. Arianna Calloway (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs) also cleared 1.74 meters, but finished behind Raes on the tiebreaker. Kamiya Dendy (Anderson, S.C./Pendleton) was fifth, clearing 1.71 meters (5-07.25). 

Umukoro's top mark of 11.73 meters (38-06.00) was good for second behind just Taryn Tarquin of Eastern Illinois, who leaped 11.90 meters (39-00.50). 

Esther Momalife (Lagos, Nigeria) ran a time of 12.11 seconds to claim third in the 100-meter dash. Momalife's personal best time is 17th fastest in the MAC this season, she advanced out of the prelims with a time of 12.20 seconds. Sam Huber (Villingendorf, Germany) also reached the final in the 100 meters, running 12.35 seconds in the final to finish eighth. The pair also combined with Stella Oyebode (Nigeria) and Faith Rouse (Milwaukee, Wis.) to run 46.92 seconds in the 4x100-meter relay, finishing third. 

Talayssia Sanders (Waco, Texas/Waco Connally) was third in the 400 meters, running a season-best time of 56.40 seconds. Sanders' time is the eighth-fastest in the MAC this spring. 

In the 5,000, Jackson's time of 19:39.90 was a season-best to finish second. In the discus, Ella Bertram (Sainte Geneieve, Mo./Valle Catholic) earned a seventh-place finish with a personal-best mark of 39.03 meters (128-00), which ranks 20th this spring in the conference. Giorgia Fino (Francavila Fontana, Italy / Istituto Tecnko Commerciale Giovanni Calo) was fourth in the javelin with a mark of 34.35 meters (112-08). 

Next weekend, April 18-19, the Huskies head to Waco, Texas, to compete in the Michael Johnson Invitational. 


100-meter Dash
3. Esther Momalife, 12.11 (12.20q)
8. Sam Huber, 12.35 (12.33q)
18. Genesis Dixon, 13.03
20. Mariah Gonzalez, 13.13

200-meter Dash
4. Stella Oyebode, 25.57
12. Mariah Gonzalez, 27.04

400-meter Dash
3. Talayssia Sanders, 56.40
14. Olivia Southby, 1:01.82

1,500-meter Run
15. Carly Leonard, 5:08.29

5,000-meter Run
2. Joy Jackson, 19:39.90

Discus
7. Ella Bertram, 39.03m (128-00)
10. Emily Rublein, 23.58m (77-04)

High Jump
2. Jasmijn Raes, 1.74m (5-08.50)
3. Arianna Calloway, 1.74m (5-08.50)
5. Kamiya Dendy, 1.71m (5-07.25)

Javelin
4. Giorgia Fino, 34.35m (112-08)

Shot Put
5. Ella Bertram, 12.32m (40-05.00)

Triple Jump
2. Precious Umukoro, 11.73m (38-06.00)
7. Aniya Barton, 11.04m (36-02.75)

4x100-meter Relay
3. Momalife, Oyebode, Huber, Rouse, 46.92