NIU takes first in Chicagoland

By Andrew Hanson

NIU track and field proved to be just as dominant outdoors as they were indoors at the Chicagoland Championships in Naperville Saturday.

The Huskies, who took first at the event’s indoor meet Feb. 17, took first at the outdoor meet, which featured 16 schools from the Chicagoland area. The Huskies defeated second-place DePaul by more than 30 points.

“Going into the meet, we met as a team and set some goals,” said NIU coach Connie Teaberry. “We came out, competed, put our best foot forward and I was very proud of the performance.”

The 4×400 team of seniors Ajahnae Hinley and April Lowery, junior Lorene Skipper and sophomore Carolyn Vasquez led the way for NIU with a first place finish. Each member of the relay team placed in an individual race.

Hinley took the 400-meter dash, with Lowery short behind at second. Skipper set a school record in the 800-meter run and got second place. Vasquez was runner-up in the 400-meter hurdles.

Other Huskies winning events were junior Elizabeth Berquist in the high jump and junior Margaret Gorski took the shot put title.

Three other throwers placed, with junior Ashley Morrow placing third in the shot put, junior Meagan Guenther taking third in the hammer throw, and sophomore Jennene Anthony placed second in the discus.

NIU also had two other second-place finishers. Senior Courtney Brown took second place in the 100-meter hurdles and senior Chanel Brown got second in the triple jump.