ALLENDALE, Mich. – Senior Mackenzie Callahan (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) won the 800 meters and Jazmyn Smith (Pinecrest, Fla./Gulliver Prep) won the long jump as the Northern Illinois University women's track and field team competed in Grand Valley State's Mike Lints Alumni Open on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 23). 

"We are blessed to have another competition in the books," said NIU Director of Track and Field Connie Teaberry. "We may not be where we were a year ago at this time, but the athletes are definitely working hard to get there. This season is about trusting the process and quality, not quantity. Any athlete on our team that understands this simple fact will fair well this year. 

"This was evident in our distance group today, with multiple strong performances. Mackenzie Callahan in the 800 meters and Ashley Tutt in the mile and 3,000 meters led the way and never looked back, while Jazmyn Smith in the long jump had a great jump series. We will continue trying to regain what we have lost and perfect what we have."

In the 800, Callahan took top spot with a time of 2:13.37, just ahead of Grand Valley's Taryn Chapko in 2:13.64. Freshman Janae Dean (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Hoffman Estates) was the second Huskie to claim a top-three finish with a time of 2:14.69 to take third. 

Smith comfortably bettered the field in the long jump, winning by more than a foot over second-place Hayley Manners of Central Michigan. Smith's top leap of 5.87 meters (19-03.75) came on her second attempt of the competition, Manners' best mark was 5.53 meters (18-01.75). 

Tutt posted a pair of top-three finishes, taking second in the 3,000 and third in the mile. In the 3,000 meters, Tutt's time of 9:31.86 was behind only Grand Valley All-American Allie Ludge (9:28.96). In the mile, Tutt claimed third with a time of 4:52.86 and was one of four Huskies in the top-10 as senior Nora Finegan (Palatine, Ill./Fremd) was eight (5:03.17), junior Hannah Ricci (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) took ninth (5:03.44) and senior Sara Atkins (Warrenville, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South) claimed 10th (5:03.62). 

The Huskies also had a pair of top-five finishers in the 200-meter dash as junior Kimone Hines (Hanover, Jamaica/Southern-New Orleans) was second in 25.02 seconds and sophomore Jahnetta Jones (Romeoville, Ill./Romeoville) was fourth in 25.13. 

Next weekend, the Huskies will make their second appearance of the season at Bowling Green as they compete in the Sid Sink Invitational on Friday, January 29. 


60-meter hurdles
7. Scout Regular, 9.10 (9.11 prelims)

60-meter dash
10. Skylynn Blue, 7.94
15. Scout Regular, 8.26

200-meter dash
2. Kimone Hines, 25.02
4. Jahnetta Jones, 25.13
8. Kaitlyn Lewis, 25.61

800-meter run
1. Mackenzie Callahan, 2:13.37
3. Janae Dean, 2:14.69
6. Kennedy Crawford, 2:22.93
9. Hannah Ricci, 2:23.79

Mile run
3. Ashley Tutt, 4:52.86
8. Nora Finegan, 5:03.17
9. Hannah Ricci, 5:03.44
10. Sara Atkins, 5:03.62
11. Brooke Lytle, 5:04.38
14. Victoria Robinson, 5:10.00
15. Julia Finegan, 5:10.84

3000-meter run
2. Ashley Tutt, 9:31.86
12. Kaitlin Miller, 10:28.09

4x400 meter relay
2. Lewis, Crawford, Dean, Robinson, 3:55.23
3. Blue, Lytle, N. Finegan, Callahan, 4:01.10
9. J. Finegan, Ricci, Regular, Atkins, 4:21.32

Weight throw
17. Fatima Stingily, 14.35m (47-01.00)

Shot put
13. Fatima Stingily, 10.76m (35-03.75)
15. Christina Wood, 10.13m (33-03.00)

Long jump
1. Jazmyn Smith, 5.87m (19-03.25)