Berquist Captures High Jump Win at Illinois :: Brown records personal best in the long jump.

Jan. 26, 2008

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Senior Elizabeth Berquist took first place in the high jump, leading the Northern Illinois women's track and field team to a seventh place finish at the Carle/Health Alliance Classic at the University of Illinois Armory, Saturday.

"This weekend was a real challenge for the girls, with 2007 Big Ten Champion Illinois and Tennesse State," NIU head coach Connie Teaberry said. "More than anything, the girls stepped-up in the face of tough competition."

The Huskies earned 48 points as a team, just eight points shy of tying Eastern Illinois for fifth. The hosting Illini won the event with 197 team points.

Berquist (Toddville, Iowa/Alburnett) outjumped the competition with a leap of 5'06.5" to take her first event win of the year. Fellow Huskie Jessica Statler (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Cedar Rapids Prairie) finished second in the event with a 5'05" mark.

"Both Liz and Jessica competed well today, and the in-team rivalry helped them push it a little higher," Teaberry said.

In the long jump, Shoshanna Brown (Plainfield, Ill./Romeoville) recorded a personal record with a jump of 17'01.5", finishing eighth. Sophomore Brittany Houghton (Freeport, Ill./Dakota) finished one place ahead of her in the event, leaping 17'02.25".

Senior Meagan Geunther (Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park) maintained her streak of top-three finishes in the weight throw with a 53'09.25" toss.

In the 800-meter dash, senior Carolyn Vasquez (Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey) finished in 2:23.60, good for fifth place. Brown also earned a fifth-place finish, bounding 36'11" in the triple jump.

"I think today there was great competition all around," Teaberry said. "We need to continue to work hard and improve, and I'm confident we will."