BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Freshman Ashley Tutt (Channahon, Ill./Minooka) took sixth in the 10,000 meters as the Northern Illinois University women's track and field team began competition in the Mid-American Conference Championships on Thursday at UB Stadium.

Tutt's sixth-place finish came in the lone final NIU competed in on the first day of the meet; two other Huskies, freshman Mackenzie Callahan (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) and sophomore NeShay Curtis (St. Louis, Mo./McCluer South Berkeley) qualified for event finals.

"It was a very positive first day for the Huskie track and field team," said NIU Director of Track and Field Connie Teaberry. "The ladies went to work today, (Ashley) Tutt putting the first points on the board, gets us off to a good start. Then NeShay (Curtis) and Mackenzie (Callahan) making it to the finals gives us confidence for the days to come."

After running in the middle of the pack in the early portion of the race, Tutt slowly began moving her way up through the field and into sixth where she finished with a time of 34:52.61. Miami's Maria Scavuzzo won the 10,000 in a MAC Championship record time of 33:35.72.

In the 1,500 meters, Callahan advanced to Saturday's final with a time of 4:36.63, the sixth-fastest time of the day, out of heat two. Callahan moved up two spots from eighth at the midway point of the race to qualify for the final on time.

Running in the third of three heats in the 400-meter hurdles, Curtis took second in a time of 1:00.86, just a tenth of a second shy of her personal best. Curtis was even with Kyla Walton of Central Michigan with two hurdles to go before pulling away to claim the final automatic spot in Saturday's final. Freshman Kishona McCray (Newark, N.J./Newark Central) took 10th overall with a time of 1:01.98, bettering her previous personal best by over two seconds.

Freshman Khenadi Jones (Sioux City, Iowa/Sioux City West) tied her season-best in the 200-meter prelims with a time of 24.44 to finish fifth in heat one, 15th overall.

The MAC Championships will continue on Friday, May 11 with the second day of the three-day competition. NIU's first student-athletes to compete will begin at 11:30 a.m. CT in the long jump.

Team Standings After Day One
1. Kent State (20)
T2. Bowling Green (16)
T2. Central Michigan (16)
T2. Ohio (T16)
5. Miami (15)
6. Toledo (11)
7. Western Michigan (8)
T8. Buffalo (6)
T8. Eastern Michigan (6)
10. NIU (3)
T11. Akron (0)
T11. Ball State (0)