The Northern Illinois University track & field team capped off their season Saturday at the NCAA National Championships, as freshman Claudette Day tied for 21st in the high jump.
After having a superb showing two weeks prior at the NCAA West Preliminary Round to get to Oregon, Day was unable to get that same momentum going and missed on all three attempts at 5-7 3/4.
“Unfortunately, Claudette did not have the competition day we had hoped,” NIU head coach Connie Teaberry said. “Nerves played a big factor, as was expected for this young athlete. The promising fact is she has many more attempts to return and, with the work ethic she has, will. We are extremely proud of her freshman year accomplishments and are excited about her future academic and athletic endeavors at NIU.”
Jumping sixth in the order, Day was unable to clear the bar on either of her first two attempts. Needing to make it on her third attempt to advance to the next round, the NIU freshman got a promising start, but just nicked the bar to end her day.
Nonetheless, Day’s advancement to the national meet is quite the accomplishment. Not only was the Belleville, Illinois, native one of only two freshman in the field, but she was one of six underclassmen competing in the high jump.
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