Records are made to be broken.

Junior track and field athlete Brittany Houghton has made it known that this is what she is here to do.

Coming into NIU, Houghton had no idea of how she’d stack up with the level of competition in Division I, but all she needed was time.

“As I got more comfortable with it, I started setting goals for myself,” she said.

Houghton’s goals have turned to reality as she has already left her mark on NIU with four records over the past three years. She owns the indoor long jump and triple jump records along with the outdoor triple jump and 4×400 meter relay records.

NIU head coach Connie Teaberry has witnessed all of her records and sees them as proof of Houghton’s dedication.

“Anytime I see a young lady accomplish a goal that they’ve set or I’ve set or a school record or personal record I think it’s an attribute to them as to how far they’re working,” said Teaberry.

With the rest of the outdoor season and her senior year to go, Houghton still has some unfinished business.

“I still have a lot more that I want to accomplish,” she said. “There’s still the long jump outdoor record. I would like to qualify for regionals in the long jump too.”

Houghton is not a selfish person in any sense of the word. She is one of the leaders of the team and is also here to help this program in every way possible.

“Brittany is definitely one of the leaders of the team, more so by action as to voice,” Teaberry said. “The young ladies look up to her and as they see what she decides to do athletically, they want to achieve the same thing.”

Teaberry also believes that Houghton is playing a big part in the progression of the track and field program at NIU. She thinks that Houghton’s play could bring in younger and better athletes and possibly propel the program to new heights.

The end of her college career might not be the end of the line for her track career.

“I don’t really want to be done with track,” said Houghton. “I’d like to continue, but I just really have to work hard and push myself. It’s all kind of up in the air.”

Houghton is even leaving the Olympics in the realm of possibilities to further her track and field career.

“It’d be nice, but my closest shot would have to be in the long jump,” she said. “But I definitely have to work hard the next couple of years.”

The stresses that come with being a student-athlete don’t overwhelm the track star, which has helped her focus on both her education and athletics. In fact, she wouldn’t take a thing back.

“In the end, it’s all worth it,” Houghton said. “I can’t imagine not doing it.”