NIU women’s track and field traveled to three different invitationals this weekend and took home nine top-five finishes, four of which being first place finishes.
KIP JANVRIN OPEN
The Huskies traveled to Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, for the Kip Janvrin Open and totaled three of their four first place finishes at this event.
Junior Emma Vorpagel won the 800-meter run, championing the event with a time of 2:14.03, a new personal best for her collegiate career.
Junior Henriette Halwas was the next Huskie to earn a first place finish, taking the top spot in high jump. Halwas cleared the mark of 1.65 meters which is also her new personal best for the high jump.
Halwas also competed in the javelin throw for the first time in her NIU career as she took sixth place with a best throw of 31.65 meters.
Senior Kendal Only took the crown in the triple jump, winning the event with her best jumping measuring at 11.26 meters.
ONU OUTDOOR INVITATIONAL
Senior Julia Finegan earned the Huskies only first place finish in its visit to Bourbonnais, Illinois. Finegan won the 800-meter run with a time of 2:18.68.
The Huskies also had three different athletes finish in second place for the 3,000 meter run, shot put and triple jump.
Junior Joy Jackson was the runner-up for the 3,000 meter run, finishing with a time of 11:19.64. Jackson finished over 40 seconds behind Purdue Northwest’s senior Christina Shaginaw.
Senior Tara Stauffacher took home the second place finish in shot put, with her best throw measuring in at 12.79 meters, which is her new personal best throw by over 0.6 meters.
Sophomore Aniya Barton finished in second place for the triple jump as her best jump of the day came in at 10.79 meters.
Junior Olivia Southby earned a season best finish in the 1,500 meter run, taking home fifth place. Southby’s time of 5:09.12 was seven seconds off of her personal best.
DRAKE RELAYS
NIU’s only top-five finish at Drake Relays was its sprint medley relay team consisting of senior Malia Watkins, fifth-year Christine Irving, junior Talayssia Sanders and Vorpagel. The relay team finished with a time of 3:55.60.
Freshman Arianna Calloway continued her impressive first year as a Huskie, taking seventh place in the Championship flight of the high jump. Calloway cleared the mark of 1.65 meters to secure her seventh place finish.
Only also competed in the triple jump at the Drake Relays along with her first place finish at the Kip Janvrin Open. The senior jumper took eighth place in Des Moines, Iowa, jumping 11.60 meters.
The Huskies will finish the regular season Saturday in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, on the campus of the University of Illinois for the Fighting Illini Tune up.
