HUSKIE TRACK AND FIELD INKS 100 AND 300 METER HURDLE STATE CHAMPION JENIN ROBINSON FOR 2003-2004

DeKALB, IL---It seems that with each passing season Northern Illinois University track and field head coach Shantel Twiggs adds another piece to her already impressive puzzle. This year is no different, as Twiggs signed the 2002 Illinois High School Association state champion in the 100 and 300 meter hurdles to run with the Huskies at the completion of her high school career. Jenin Robinson (Plano) will join the NIU roster to compete in 2003-2004.

"This signing is a tremendous leap forward for our program," noted Coach Twiggs. "Jenin is one of the top-five returning hurdlers in the state, and she will be able to step in and make an immediate impact in the Mid-American Conference."

With her entire senior season still in front of her, Robinson has already compiled quite and impressive resume over the past three seasons. Under the tutelage of Plano High School track boss Jan Unruh, the 17-year-old has excelled from day one at PHS.
Robinson burst onto the scene in the spring of 2000, when, as a freshman, she finished 5th in the 100 meter hurdles with a 15.83 time at the IHSA state meet.

The ultimate goal of a state title eluded the young sprinter again in 2001. Not only did a heartbreaking second-place finish fail to discourage Robinson, but it drove her to work even harder prior to last season. What ensued was a year laced with success. An Interstate Eight Conference title in the 300 meter hurdles preceded her incredible run at the state competition where she racked up the aforementioned two state championships. Her 14.78 clip in the 100 meter hurdles and 46.35 effort in the 300 meter hurdles are both PHS records and helped the senior to earn her third straight First Team All-IEC and All-Area honors as well as a spot on the 2001-2002 All-State squad.

An all-around athlete, the 5'9" sparkplug has participated as a three-sport competitor in all three of her seasons as a Lady Reaper. While volleyball occupies her time in the fall, Robinson shifts gears and hits the hardwood during the winters as a PHS basketball player for head coach Jim Green.

Once she finally dons the Huskie cardinal and black, Robinson will add depth to an increasingly talented sprints and jumps program at NIU that includes returnee Amanda Bergman (Maple Park / Burlington Central), the school record holder in the 60 meter low hurdles, triple jump, and heptathlon. Bergman, ironically enough, was a 100 and 300 meter hurdle state qualifier of her own back in 2000-2001. Add that to a distance program chock full of talented runners that have accounted for seven new NIU highmarks over the past two seasons, and 2003-2004 becomes an extremely bright point in the Huskies' future.

-30- --- Copy by Brian Kedzior