Whyte breaks school record at NIU Classic
May 6, 2019
DeKALB — Track and Field competed at home this weekend in the annual NIU Classic. Senior jumper Jehvania Whyte concluded her final regular season with the Huskies, breaking the school long jump record with a jump of 6.04 meters.
Head Coach Connie Teaberry said the fans were key to the athlete’s performances.
“The energy of the crowd today at home was high and uplifting,” Teaberry said. “[The energy] gives the athletes the confidence they need to perform well. There is nothing like support from family and friends.”
Whyte’s leap is the third-best long jump in the Mid-American Conference this season and betters the previous school record of 6.00 meters, set by Whyte at the 2018 MAC Championships.
Also in the long jump, first-year sprinter and jumper Diamond Riley had a season-best jump of 5.62 meters, which was the 11th-best mark in the MAC this season.
Teaberry was proud of Whyte’s final jump at home.
“There are so many mixed emotions watching [Whyte] compete in her last home competition,” Teaberry said. “I was excited watching her set a new personal record, facility and school record, along with reaching the MAC Auto standard for the first time in the long jump.”
On the field side, the Huskies came out with more personal records. First-year multi-event runner Taylor Ramsey, sophomore thrower Fatima Stingily and first-year thrower Christina Wood each set season-best marks in the javelin event.
Ramsey had a top throw of 34.00 meters, Stingily with 27.24 meters and Wood with 23.16 meters.
Wood and Stingily also achieved season bests in the discus. Wood’s throw was 38.90 meters, and Stingily’s measured 38.16 meters.
The two Huskies also recorded season-best hammer throws. Stingily threw 41.06 meters, and Wood had her best throw measured at 31.45 meters.
In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, junior distance runner Mercer Mack recorded a season-best time of 11:14.25, ranking 14th in the conference.
Head Coach Connie Teaberry is confident in the team as they continue to prepare for the MAC Championships.
“In order for us to perform well [at the MAC championships] we have to enter the competition with focus and prepared to go to war,” Teaberry said. “The marks and times thus far, get them to the Championship, but if they are not prepared mentally and physically to perform on the day, it doesn’t matter. The preparation has occurred now they have to execute with confidence.”
Next week, the Huskies will head to the MAC championships in Muncie, Ind. The meet will begin on Thursday and continue through Saturday.