Jayden Hill

DETROIT — The Northern Michigan University community is mourning after the death of track and field freshman athlete Jayden Hill.

Hill, 19, died Sunday, according to the school. No cause of death has been released.

“Jayden made an impact on our team in a short time,” Northern track and field coach Jenny Ryan said in an NMU release. “She was extremely dedicated to her sport, a tremendously hard worker, and a warm and engaging young woman off the track. She will be missed.”

Hill was born in Monrovia, Liberia, before moving to the western Lower Peninsula, where she attended Coopersville High School in Allendale. A decorated high school track athlete, Hill originally committed to Ottawa University in Surprise, Arizona, where she intended to study pre-law and psychology, according to her Facebook page.

Hill transferred closer to home in January, joining NMU on scholarship. According to Northern, Hill was pursuing a degree in political science with a concentration in pre-law. Her obituary says she had aspirations to become a civil rights lawyer.

The NMU community held a candlelight vigil in her honor Monday evening.

“Wildcat Athletics sends our sympathy to Jayden’s family and friends,” Northern athletic director Forrest Karr said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time. Jayden’s teammates and coaches are also in mourning, and we are grateful for everyone who is helping and supporting the team.”

“Jayden will always be remembered as the most loving and caring person anyone had ever met, and her contagious laugh will forever be remembered by those who were blessed to know her,” read part of her obituary.

Hill’s visitation will be from 2-6 p.m. Saturday at Arsulowicz Brothers Remembrance Mortuary in the Grand Rapids suburb of Walker.

There will be another visitation at 3 p.m. Sunday at First Evangelical Covenant Church in Grand Rapids. The funeral will then begin at 4 p.m.

Her full obituary and details about her memorial service are available online at https://www.arsulowiczbrothers.com/obituaries/Jayden-Hill/.

This article, dated Thursday, was posted on the Detroit Free Press website, www.freep.com.