TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Junior Ashley Tutt (Channahon, Ill./Minooka) of the Northern Illinois University women's cross country team became the highest-finishing Huskie ever at the NCAA Cross Country Championships as she finished 50th on the LaVern Gibson Championship Course on Saturday morning (Nov. 23). Tutt crossed the line in a time of 20:57.5 to conclude her historic season. 

Just the second runner to ever represent NIU at the NCAA Championships, Tutt's 50th place finish bettered Hope Schmelzle's 103rd at the 2016 NCAA Championships, adding to a remarkable season that had already seen Tutt become the first Huskie to win a Mid-American Conference cross country title. 

Running in cool conditions with light rain, Tutt made a surge up 11 places over the final two kilometers to finish inside the top-50 in the 254-runner field. The Huskie junior was the top-finisher from the MAC, ahead of Eastern Michigan's Natalie Cizmas who finished 88th (21:11.8). 

Weini Kelati of New Mexico won the NCAA Individual Women's Championship with a time of 19:47.5, Arkansas claimed the team title with a score of 96, just six points ahead of second-place BYU. 

The Huskies will now look forward to opening the indoor track and field season on Saturday, December 7, at the Fred Wilt Open in West Lafayette, Ind.