Full NIU Results from the MAC Outdoor Championships Listed Below

Full Results


MUNCIE, Ind. -- Kelsey Hildreth of the Northern Illinois University women's track & field team became the first Huskie in program history to win the 10,000-meter run on Thursday during the opening day of competition at the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Hildreth (Byron, Ill./Byron) took the lead with a burst of speed with about 3,000 meters to go in the race and never looked back, setting a Ball State track complex record with a finish of 34:37.50 -- more than 16 seconds ahead of event runner-up and top-seed Abbey Kelto of Central Michigan.

The freshman distance runner extraordinaire earned the NIU women's track & field team 10.0 points with the victory, lifting the Huskies into a tie for sixth place with 12.0 points after the first day of the three-day meet in Muncie, Ind.

NIU director of track & field and cross country Connie Teaberry was ecstatic for Hildreth, who became the fourth Huskie to ever win an event at the MAC Outdoor Championships and the first since Janay Mitchell won the 100-meter dash in 2012.

"She is such a phenomenal athlete. We're so proud of her," Teaberry said of Hildreth after the first day of the conference meet. "You can see her determination in everything she does, so for her to come out here and win the 10K with a track record, you have to take your hat off to her and give her all the praise in the world."

The Huskies earned their two other points thanks to javelin throw specialist Jasmine Wilson (Elmira, Ontario, Canada/Elmira), who finished seventh in the javelin with a throw of 42.70 meters.

NIU is also poised to earned significant points in the heptathlon on Friday, as Claudette Day (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) and Latesha Bigby (Hanover, Jamaica/Butler CC) sit second and third in the seven-event competition after four events were completed on Thursday. The Huskie duo are just a few points behind leader Sarah Chauchard from Eastern Michigan.

"We're sitting pretty good heading into the second day of competition. We've got some firepower in the upcoming events, so we're looking forward to rounding out the rest of this meet with some successful results," Teaberry added.

The Huskies will resume their participation at the MAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Friday when the heptathlon continues at 10:30 a.m. CT.

NIU Track & Field Results at the MAC Outdoor Championships

10,000-meter Run
Kelsey Hildreth: 1st, 34:37.50 -- 10 points for NIU

Heptathlon
Claudette Day: 2nd, 3,338 points through four events
100-meter hurdles: 2nd, 13.95 seconds, 985 points
High jump: T-3rd, 1.69 meters, 842 points
Shot put: 2nd, 11.98 meters, 660 points -- Personal Record
200-meter dash: 4th, 25.39 seconds, 851 points

Latesha Bigby: 3rd, 3,303 points through four events
100-meter hurdles: 1st, 13.66 seconds, 1,027 points
High jump: T-3rd, 1.69 meters, 842 points
Shot put: 7th, 9.64 meters, 506 points
200-meter dash: 1st, 24.56 seconds, 928 points

Javelin Throw
Jasmine Wilson: 7th, 42.70 meters -- 2 points for NIU

Hammer Throw
Erin Scott: 17th, 48.64 meters

--NIU--