NORMAL, Ill. – Stella Oyebode (Ilorin, Nigeria) won the 100 meters, Jasmijn Raes (Amsterdam, Netherlands) claimed the high jump and the Huskies took first in the 4x100-meter relay as the Northern Illinois University women's track and field team began its outdoor season on Saturday (March 28) at the Joyce Morton-Kief Invitational, hosted by Illinois State. 

"The outdoor season opener is under our belt, and the athletes gave great efforts despite the cold temperatures," said NIU Director of Track and Field Connie Teaberry. "The staff has been trying to build strength, mental stability, confidence, sharpen technique and instill a competitive mindset with the athletes these four weeks since indoors. They have embraced it all and are learning to apply these necessary traits to aid in their performances. Illinois State was a great opener and most of our ladies showed great promise."

In the 100 meters, Oyebode took the top spot in a time of 12.07 seconds, ahead of second-place Isabel Roloff of Milwaukee who ran 12.20 seconds. Precious Akinsanya (Des Plaines, Ill./Maine West) was third in 12.34 seconds, just ahead of Milwaukee's Victoria Evtimov by just two one-thousandths of a second. 

Oyebode also ran the anchor leg on NIU's winning 4x100-meter relay team as she was joined by Esther Momalife (Lagos, Nigeria), Natasha Chetty (Victoria, Seychelles/Seychelles Business Studies Academy) and Tiffany Colin (Tampa, Fla./Wiregrass Ranch) to claim first-place in a time of 47.49 seconds. Chetty and Momalife also posted top-three finishes in the 200 meters as Chetty ran 24.64 to finish second and Momalife was third in 25.29. 

Raes won the high jump title as she cleared the bar at 1.67 meters (5-05.75) on her second attempt at the mark, giving her the event win over Macy Woodward of Milwaukee who cleared 1.62 meters (5-03.75). 

NIU also had runner-up finishes in the 1,500 meters and the triple jump. In the 1,500, Amelie Ojeda (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) posted a time of 4:35.87 to finish just a little over a half-second behind Illinois State's Brooke Zeibert (4:35.29). Precious Umukoro (Villarreal, Spain) recorded a best leap of 12.02 meters (39-05.25) on her sixth, and final, attempt of the day to claim second in the triple jump behind Imani Ogunribido of Illinois Wesleyan (12.43m).

In the 100-meter hurdles, Miashlie Jean (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Northeast) recorded a third-place finish with a time of 14.59 seconds. 

NIU will return to action next weekend in the Lone Star State as the Huskies Compete at the Texas Relays (April 1-4) and the Bobcat Invitational (April 2-4). 

100-meter Dash
1. Stella Oyebode, 12.07
3. Precious Akinsanya, 12.34
7. Esther Momalife, 12.41
17. Faith Rouse, 12.85

100-meter Hurdles
3. Miashlie Jean, 14.59
8. Kaiya Key, 15.59

200-meter Dash
2. Natasha Chetty, 24.64
3. Esther Momalife, 25.29
6. Miashlie Jean, 25.56
30. Mariah Gonzalez, 27.77

400-meter Dash
6. Tiffany Colin, 1:00.50
7. Natasha Chetty, 1:00.53

400-meter Hurdles
5. Sanaii Vaughn, 1:07.63

1,500-meter Run
2. Amelie Ojeda, 4:35.87
6. Claire Helmila, 4:38.57
12. Liliana Camargo, 5:02.16

5,000-meter Run
4. Ariel Hernandez, 18:47.69

High Jump
1. Jasmijn Raes, 1.67m (5-05.75)

Javelin
5. G'Nea Pitt, 35.77m (117-04)

Long Jump
5. Precious Umukoro, 5.39m (17-08.25)
10. Tod'Jai Ross, 5.03m (16-06.00)
12. Kaiya Key, 4.92m (16-01.75)

Triple Jump
2. Precious Umukoro, 12.02m (39-05.25)
6. Aniya Barton, 11.50m (37-08.75)

4x100-meter Relay
1. Momalife, Chetty, Colin, Oyebode, 47.49
6. Akinsanya, Rouse, Jean, Gonzalez, 49.65