Jan. 31, 2012

CLEVELAND - Northern Illinois' Janay Mitchell was named the Mid-American Conference's Women's Track Athlete of the Week, the league announced Tuesday.
 
"Janay has been working extremely hard this season to get back where she was two years ago before her injuries," said Huskie head coach Connie Teaberry. "We're excited that she is the recipient of the MAC Athlete of the Week and hope her continued dedication continues to prevail on the track."
 
Mitchell turned in arguably the best meet performance of her career Saturday at the IWU Invitational, breaking two school records on the day. The Teaneck, N.J., native began the day with a resounding performance in the 4x200 relay, helping the Huskie quartet finish first with a time of 1:40.23, breaking the old school record by over three seconds and also setting a new meet and track record.
 
Mitchell, though, was not done there, as she would break her own NIU record in the 60 meters. After notching the top time in the prelims at 7.60, she won the event with a 7.55 mark, shattering the facility and meet records in the process.
 
This is the first time that the sophomore has won the honor in her career. She is also the first Huskie to win the weekly award since Rhonda Lee on Jan. 12, 2010.
 
NIU returns to the track Feb. 10-11, when they head to Ames, Iowa, to compete in the Iowa State Classic.