ATHENS, Ohio – The Northern Illinois University women's track and field team opened competition in the 2025 Mid-American Conference Outdoor Championships Thursday in Athens, Ohio with thrower Giorgia Fino putting the first points on the board for NIU with a sixth-place finish in the javelin.

Fino's throw of 130-5 feet (39.75 meters), marked a personal best for the grad student from Francavila Fontana, Italy, who earned three points for NIU. Fino ranked seventh in the MAC entering the meet. Also recording a career best in the javelin was Ella Bertram (Sainte Geneieve, Mo.) with a throw of 119-10 or 36.52 meters, more than 18 feet beyond her previous best of 101-7. She placed 10th, one spot out of advancing to the finals, after entering the meet ranked No. 20 in the MAC.
 
Only two Huskie runners were in action on day one of the three-day MAC Championship Meet at Goldsberry Track. NIU freshman Esther Momalife ran 24.57 in the prelimaries of the 200 meters for her season best.  In the 10,000, NIU's Bailey Wilk (Huntley, Ill./Huntley HS) ran a 39:34.71 in her first effort at that distance this season.

"Our ladies competing today definitely left everything they had on the track and field," said NIU Director of Track & Field Connie Teaberry. "Giorgia Fino led the way with a season best performance in the javelin to put our first points on the board. We had great performances from Ella Bertram in the javelin as she just missed finals and surpassing her personal best on all three throws. Freshman Esther Momalife set her personal best in the 200 meters, leaving the competition higher than what she was seeded coming into the championship. Our last event of the night was the 10,000 in brutal temperatures, yet our birthday runner Bailey Wilk gave us everything she had in her last collegiate race. Proud of our ladies today and looking forward to watching tomorrow's group capitalize on their momentum." 
 
NIU returns to action at the MAC Championships at 1 p.m. (CT) Friday with the long jump with women's running events starting at 2:30 p.m.  Click here to follow live results.
 
THURSDAY HUSKIE RESULTS
2025 MAC Championships
Athens, Ohio – Goldberry Track
 
200m
15. Esther Momalife 24.57
 
10,000m
19. Bailey Wilk – 39:34.71
 
Javelin
6. Giorgia Fino – 39.75/130-5
10. Ella Bertram – 36.52/119-10
 
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