DeKALB — Junior jumper Jehvania Whyte has had a remarkable year leading the track and field team in the 2018 season.

Whyte leads the Mid-American Conference in the triple jump standings and broke the school record four weeks in a row at 12.74 meters.

“Jehvania came in and got hurt her freshman year, and then something clicked with her,” said Head Coach Connie Teaberry. “She let go of a lot of baggage that she was holding on to. That really allowed her to focus on what she wanted out of education and what she wanted out of her athletic career.”

Q: Has track always been your sport of choice?

A: Yes — ever since I grew up, it has a lot of opportunities. I was drafted to play netball for Jamaica, but it’s not a world-known sport, so track provided more opportunities. I just stuck to track, and then I got good at it.

Q: Why did you choose NIU?

A: I had a lot of options, but I would say Coach Teaberry. She’s the one who coaches me, and she’s an olympian. I wanted an olympian to coach me. They were really interested in me, and it was the thought of her being an olympian just made me realize that’s the person I want to coach me.

Q: What was it like having to adjust to America coming from Jamaica?

A: It’s all about evaluation. It was a journey getting through freshman year and sophomore year. I had to realize I’m in a different environment. The things I used to do back home I can’t do it here, and you have to trust the people around you ,trust their methods of coaching. You can’t have any doubts.

Q: What can you attribute your success to this season?

A: I got focused. I dropped every distraction. Sometimes you just have to re-evaluate and drop certain things. I stayed here for the entire summer last year and just practiced everyday. I worked out all summer, I hit my target weight, and when my coach came back and I was ready.

Q: Coach Connie Teaberry has talked a lot about your dedication, what is it like playing for a coach that notices the hard work you put in?

A: It makes things a lot easier because when I got here I didn’t want to talk to anyone, and she saw that. Now we have conversations. It makes it easier knowing that when I’m not near my family, I have someone to talk to — that is my coach.

Q: Breaking your own record four meets in a row is an impressive feat, is that something you’re always aiming for?

A: This season I’ve become so competitive. I’ve never felt so competitive since I’ve been here. I’m hungry for it. I just go out there and compete. I don’t care what school you come from, I don’t care if you won the NCAA last year, I just do what Coach [Teaberry] and I worked on during our practices.

Q: You’ve obviously excelled in triple jump this season, but are there any other events that you want to improve on such as long jump?

A: I do long jump, and I haven’t been doing so great but I don’t know what happened this season. I [matched] the long jump school record. What I love now is that I’m so far ahead because at this meet last year I was jumping nothing compared to what I’m jumping now. I look now and think there’s no wind behind me, this is indoors, what will happen when I get outdoors.

Q: Do you consider yourself a leader on the team?

A: I would say yes. Track and field is kind of an individual sport, but at the end of the day it’s NIU, not Jehvania. It’s a team sport, but everyone has their own personal goals. I think my teammates do look up to me, especially the people who I jump with, they want to see how I do this and that.

Q: How do you help younger teammates prepare for the grind of a long season and the MAC Championship?

A: If you want to be the best at what you do you have to just cancel out all distractions. I had to realize what it is to be a Division 1 athlete and compete like one and think like one. I just tell them work hard, and don’t just go through the motions trust your coach, trust the process.

Q: What should we expect to see from Jehvania and the team for the rest of the season?

A: A lot of big things, there is a lot of talent on the team this year, and I have faith in all of them. We just have to focus and do what we have to do and don’t get distracted by anything. I really do see the talent, we’re not a big team, so just do what you have to do and we’ll be alright.