May 24, 2012

AUSTIN, Texas - The Northern Illinois track & field team opened their weekend Thursday at the NCAA West Preliminary Round with Janay Mitchell as the lone Huskie competing.
 
"Janay gave a good effort today, but we needed an excellent effort to run with the ladies that competed tonight," said Huskie head coach Connie Teaberry. "She is disappointed, but the disappointment is driving her to mentally prepare for the 200 (meters) tomorrow. She must execute the entire race and, if she does, she will have a strong finish."
 
Mitchell placed seventh in the first heat of the 100 meters prelims with a time of 11.90, beating out Wichita State's Shamoya Pruitt by one-hundredth of a second. Overall, the junior took 43rd place in the 48-athlete field. Dominique Duncan of Texas A&M won the heat at 11.25, while TCU's Lorraine Ugen, Texas-Arlington's Shannon Reynolds and UC-Davis' Melanise Chapman also advanced out of the first heat to Friday's final.
 
The Huskies continue their run in Texas tomorrow evening with two more events. Roneisha Frye competes in the 100 hurdles prelims at 5:30 p.m., followed by Mitchell taking part in the 200 meters prelims at 8:25 p.m.