MADISON, Wis. -- Taking on an impressive field that included 16 nationally-ranked programs, the Northern Illinois University cross country team claimed a 30th place finish on Friday afternoon at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational. Sophomore Ashley Tutt (Channahon, Ill./Minooka) was the first finisher for the Huskies, completing the six-kilometer course in 21:02.0.

"We got pulled out a little quick at the start and were punished for that on the backend of the course," said NIU head coach Adrian Myers. "The goal was to go out much more controlled and take down the back 3K, so we really did the opposite by getting pulled out too hard in the first 2K. Our goal was to finish around 25th, given the strength of the field and where we are in our training and racing development."

NIU's 30th-place finish was just two spots behind last season's national runner-up, San Francisco. Tutt finished inside the top-100 against the nation's best, finishing 77th on the course that later this fall will host the NCAA Division I national championships. 

Sophomore Mackenzie Callahan (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) was NIU's second finisher, crossing the line in a time of 21:22.5, to finish 115th while freshman Hannah Ricci (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) was the third Huskie to finish, claiming 190th in a time of 22:15.8.

"Ashley (Tutt) had a rough day, but to her credit, that rarely happens and all I can say is we cannot rely on her batting 1.000 every time," said Myers. "Mackenzie (Callahan) did a nice job and had a solid race for us. We learned a lot the hard way today but, with another solid training block ahead, we can correct and come out as the team we know we are right now. We came out (of today) knowing more about ourselves and what we need to address."

Two Huskies competed in the open race prior to the 'A' race, with sophomore Nora Finegan (Palatine, Ill./Fremd) finishing 89th in 23:10.5, setting a new personal-best by over a minute, and junior Mercer Mack (Eureka, Ill./Eureka) crossing the line in 23:50.9, setting a grass PR.

NIU will return to action on Friday, Oct. 12, when the Huskies compete in the Bradley Pink Classic in Peoria, Ill. 

Team Scores (Top Five Only)
1. Colorado, 80
2. Boise State, 91
3. New Mexico, 130
4. Villanova, 156
5. Arkansas, 173
30. NIU, 789

NIU Individual Finishes
77. Ashley Tutt, 21:02.0
115. Mackenzie Callahan, 21:22.5
190. Hannah Ricci, 22:15.8
202. Vivian Overbeck, 22:36.1
205. Daly Galloway, 22:41.5
219. Melissa Ricci, 23:20.2
223. Sara Atkins, 23:38.9

NIU Individuals in Open Race
89. Nora Finegan, 23:10.5
108. Mercer Mack, 23:50.9