Track & field takes 3 top spots at the Redbird Tune Up

February 17, 2024

Senior middle distance runner Julia Finegan runs past an Eastern Illinois University opponent at the Redbird Tune Up on Friday. Finegan brought home two top-five finishes for the Huskies Friday. (Courtesy of Illinois State Athletics)

NIU women’s track and field took home 13 top-five finishes, including three first-place finishes in the high jump, 800-meter run and 200-meter dash in the Redbird Tune Up on Friday.

The Huskies swept the top-five for the 200-meter dash, with junior Roshell Rowe taking the crown at a time of 26.19 seconds. Finishing just behind Rowe was junior Talayssia Sanders with a time of 26.66 seconds and freshman Faith Rouse in third with a time of 28.07 seconds.

Sophomore Ari Christian took fourth-place in the 200-meter dash, finishing with a season best time of 29.23 seconds. Finishing right behind Christian was sophomore Kayla Johnson, as she finished just seven-hundredths of a second behind her teammate at 29.30 seconds.

Senior Julia Finegan had a pair of top-five finishes in the 800-meter run and the 1-mile run. Finegan championed the 800 with a time of 2:23.19 and took third-place in the mile with a time of 5:11.52.

NIU had a pair of top-five finishes in the high jump, tying for first place. Junior Kamiya Dendy and freshman Arianna Calloway both ended with jumps of 1.74 meters. Dendy’s jump of 1.74 meters was a new personal record for her career as a Huskie.

Senior Skylynn Blue claimed the Huskies’ third second-place finish of the day in the 60-meter dash. Blue’s time of 7.67 seconds is her best time of the season so far.

Freshman Morgan Gioia and senior Carly Leonard finished in third and fourth place in the 3,000 meter run. Gioia finished ahead of Leonard with a time of 11:29.11, and Leonard finished seven seconds behind with a time of 11:36.12. Leonard’s time was a new personal record.

“We had a nice ending to our regular indoor season,” said NIU Director of Track and Field Connie Teaberry via NIU Athletics. “A small, but mighty, group qualified for the Indoor MAC Championships. The staff is looking forward to seeing the athletes rise to the competitive conference competition.”

The Huskies will travel to Ypsilanti, Michigan, on Friday for the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships. The event will be hosted by Eastern Michigan University and will be held at the Bowen Field House.