MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Another conference championship for the Northern Illinois University women's track and field program! Just three months after winning its first conference cross country title, the Huskies claimed the second leg of the triple crown by winning the first Mid-American Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship in program history on Saturday (Feb. 27).  

NIU finished with 127 points, 23 points ahead of second-place Akron. Huskie Director of Track and Field Connie Teaberry was named the MAC Coach of the Year. 

Junior Ashley Tutt (Channahon, Ill./Minooka) won her second and third conference titles of the meet on Saturday, taking first in the mile and 3,000 meters to go along with her 5,000-meter championship from Friday night. Junior Kimone Hines (Hanover, Jamaica/Southern-New Orleans) won the MAC Championship in the 60-meter dash. 

"I am the proud coach of a MAC Champion Track and Field Team," said Teaberry. "After 16 years I am so proud to have the privilege to make that statement. This title is the result of the student-athletes trusting the process, working hard in spite of the COVID setbacks, and when the time came, fighting for each other, putting the team before themselves. These ladies scored in every event we competed in. Our veterans knew the fight to expect and our newbies accepted the challenge and stepped up in a big way."

Tutt opened the day with her second individual crown of the meet, winning the mile with a time of 4:49.09. Senior Mackenzie Callahan (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) also scored in the mile for the Huskies, taking fifth in 4:52.90. Callahan grabbed another fifth-place finish in the 3,000 with a time of 9:43.74 while Tutt won the event in a meet record time of 9:23.64. 

With her three titles at this year's indoor championship (mile, 3,000, 5,000) Tutt has now won six individual MAC Championships during her remarkable career, having won the 2019 Cross Country title as well as the 3,000 and 5,000 meters at the 2020 MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships. 

"Ashley Tutt went to war for and with the other 22 athletes," said Teaberry. "She led the way with three MAC titles and a MAC Championship record. She is the sweetest person, but just a beast on the track and cross country course. Our new edition Kimone Hines placed another win in the point total with a clear win in the 60 meters. She had a drive phase that placed her out in front the entire race and she never let up. We had strong performances from the jumps today as well. Taylor Ramsey in the high jump muscled a third-place finish fighting a leg injury.

In the 60 meters, Hines put 10 points on the board for NIU with a winning time of 7.45 seconds, beating Eastern Michigan's Alyson Davis to the line by 0.05 seconds. 

The Huskies scored significant points in both the 400 and 800 meters, taking three scoring positions in both events. In the 400, freshman Kennedy Crawford (Douglasville, Ga./Alexander) claimed second in 56.58 seconds. Sophomore Jahnetta Jones (Romeoville, Ill./Romeoville) was fourth in the 400 in 57.05 and junior Kaitlyn Lewis (Liberty, Mo./Liberty) was sixth in 57.40 seconds. 

Senior Victoria Robinson (Lansing, Kan./Kansas State) was second in the 800 meters with a time of 2:12.88. Callahan finished third in the 800 in 2:13.31 as she scored in three different events on Saturday (800, mile, 3,000) and freshman Janae Dean (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Hoffman Estates) claimed seventh in 2:21.20. 

"There were so many that filled in the gaps but the three that stand out for me are Mackenzie Callahan's three races -- the 800, mile, & 3K which is not an easy triple and was able to place in each event," said Teaberry. "Kaitlyn Lewis who ran blistering legs on our distance medley (yesterday) and 4x400 relay and ran the open 400. Running three 400's in two days is not easy. Yet she did it for the team."

Freshman Scout Regular (St. Louis, Mo./Incarnate Word Academy) was second in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.63 seconds, just 0.04 seconds behind Akron's Jacqueline Pokuaah (8.59) for the conference title, while freshman Skylynn Blue (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) was third in the 200 meters in 24.93.  

"I look at our freshman and how intimidating this meet could have been for them," said Teaberry. "But it was just the opposite we have two place second in heated races. Scout Regular in the 60 hurdles and Kennedy Crawford in the 400 both competed like veterans I am so grateful they chose NIU and look forward to watching them improve even more. Our other freshman, Skylynn Blue, ran a full lap of the track with no fear in the 200 out of the slow heat and claimed her third place medal.

"I could go on and on about each and every athlete that scored because they all gave their sweat, tears, heart and soul this weekend. The staff could not be prouder of this team." 

In the field events, junior Taylor Ramsey (St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood Central) cleared 1.69 meters in the high jump, the best mark in the competition, but finished third as she cleared that height on her second attempt while Eastern Michigan's Quintella Johnson and Nina Ward both made the height on their first attempt. Junior Diamond Riley (St. Louis, Mo./Ritenour) took fifth in the triple jump with a best leap measuring 12.15 meters. 

With the overall result of the meet already wrapped up, NIU took second in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:50.15 as Lewis made up three places running the anchor leg. Jones, Crawford and Dean joined Lewis in the relay. 

"The team would also like to thank the team behind the scenes that made winning this championship a reality," said Teaberry. "Our trainer, Alex Wendler, has taped, bandaged, nursed, stretched, iced and heated these ladies this semester and kept them going. Thank you to President Freeman, Mr. (Sean T.) Frazier and administration for always fighting for our student-athletes' well-being.  

"Our sport AD Mr. Anton Goff has been a driving force of support walking in the door to the staff and the athletes. His uplifting comments and communication helps drive us daily and we appreciate his leadership. There are so many others from the weight room to facilities, SAASS, communications, compliance, our faculty athletic rep and transportation that have kept us going. This win does not happen without them. We appreciate and thank you!"


Team Standings
1. NIU, 127
2. Akron, 104
3. Bowling Green, 86
4. Eastern Michigan, 77
5. Central Michigan, 60
6. Kent State, 54
7. Miami (Ohio), 53.5
8. Ball State, 30.5
T9. Toledo, 21.5
T9. Buffalo, 21.5
11. Western Michigan, 16
12. Ohio, 12

60-meter dash
1. Kimone Hines, 7.45

200-meter dash
3. Skylynn Blue, 24.93
8. Kimone Hines, 35.60

400-meter dash
2. Kennedy Crawford, 56.58
4. Jahnetta Jones, 57.05
6. Kaitlyn Lewis, 57.40

800-meter run
2. Victoria Robinson, 2:12.88
3. Mackenzie Callahan, 2:13.31
7. Janae Dean, 2:21.20

Mile Run
1. Ashley Tutt, 4:49.09
5. Mackenzie Callahan, 4:52.90
11. Nora Finegan, 5:03.49

3,000-meter run
1. Ashley Tutt, 9:23.64 (MAC Championships Record)
5. Mackenzie Callahan, 9:43.74
26. Hannah Ricci, 10:40.82

4x400-meter relay
2. Jones, Crawford, Dean, Lewis, 3:50.15

60-meter hurdles
2. Scout Regular, 8.63

Triple jump
5. Diamond Riley, 12.15m
15. Kendal Only, 11.12m

High jump
3. Taylor Ramsey, 1.69m