DeKALB | Sprinting events highlighted a successful Huskie Open for the NIU track and field team on Saturday.

The Huskies came away with nine event wins, while also claiming the top four spots in both the 100 and 200-meter dashes.

“One thing they do a great job of when we have our home meet – making sure that family and friends are out there – they compete really hard,” said NIU head coach Connie Teaberry of the team. “They take it to another level.”

Leading the Huskies was Rasheta Butler, who came away with three victories on the day. Butler took the 100-meter dash in 12.02 seconds followed by Chanel Kellyman’s 12.12 seconds effort. Behind them were Brittany Smith (12.15) and Rhonda Lee (12.19) to claim the top four spots for NIU.

Butler then won the 200-meter dash in 24.83 seconds, followed by teammates Roneisha Frye (24.98), Kellyman (25.30) and Smith (25.68). In the 200-meter finals, nine of the 25 competitors were Huskies.

Butler capped off her day as part of the 4×400 team that crossed the line first in a time of 3:58.68.

“Rasheta’s one of those girls that’s a seasoned veteran; you don’t have to babysit her,” Teaberry said. “She competes to the best of her ability every time you put her out there on the track.”

Teaberry was also impressed by the success of the NIU hurdlers and longer distance runners. Courtney Oldenburg set a new track record, according to Teaberry, with a time of 2:18.46 to claim the 800-meter run title. Lindsay DeReadt also claimed victory in the 5,000-meter run, posting 18:27.00.

Erin Milner ran the 400-meter hurdles in 1:03.85 to take the title, while Frye (14.13) and Megan Gregory (14.29) claimed the top two spots in the 100-meter hurdles.

“Our hurdlers did a great job…stepping it up and giving each other that extra push to go one, two [in the 100-meter hurdles],” Teaberry said. “The times both stood very high in our MAC conference.”

The Huskies rounded out their success in the field events, with three Huskies garnering wins. Mary Bull threw a personal best 42-9.75 to claim the shot put title, while teammate Cora Caulfield earned the top slot in the discus throw.

In the long jump, NIU took the first two spots, with Deidra McIntosh having the top leap of 17-9.50 followed by Lee’s 17-4.75 effort.

“That was great coming through because the winds were swirling,” Teaberry said of McIntosh. “Sometimes with jumpers, it’s hard to get your mark when the weather is not cooperating.”