DeKALB — The Track and Field team competed in the Texas relays and the Bobcat invitational this weekend. Six Huskies were automatic Mid-American Conference qualifiers. Head Coach Connie Teaberry said she is proud of the athletes and the marks they received.

“This weekend we walk away from two competitive competitions placing six athletes on the MAC auto-qualifying list,” Teaberry said. “The staff is proud of their determination and we see others not far behind.”

The MAC qualifying marks began at the Texas Relays with senior jumper Jehvania Whyte and sophomore distance-runner Mackenzie Callahan.

Whyte achieved her qualifying time in the triple jump with a mark of 13.33 meters, placing sixth. Callahan also earned a sixth-place finish with a time of 4:27.07 minutes in the 1500-meter run to grab her qualifying mark.

Teaberry said she was encouraged by the team’s display despite the challenging practice conditions.

“The impressive part about these performances is that their preparation is just scratching the surface, since we have not been able to get outside, due to the morning temperatures, to practice,” Teaberry said. “Right now we are still working on outdoor events inside, which throws off timing and rhythm.”

NIU achieved four other MAC qualifying marks at the Texas State Bobcat Invitational. Among those qualifying were junior multi-event runner Remy Amarteifio, first-year multi-event runner Taylor Ramsey, junior multi-event runner NeShay Curtis and first-year multi-event runner Diamond Riley.

Related: Black and Gold Invite yields two MAC qualifiers

Amarteifio ran an event-winning time in the 100-meter hurdles, recording a time of 13.60 seconds. Tiffany Flynn, Mississippi State graduate hurdler, was edged out by Amarteifio by just one one-hundredth of a second with a time of 13.61 seconds.

Ramsey achieved her MAC qualifying mark in the high jump with her 1.70 meter performance, placing second behind Aubrey Main, Murray State senior multi-event runner, won the event on a judgement call, also receiving a mark of 1.70 meters.

Curtis took second in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of  1:01.52 minutes placing just behind Riley White, Mississippi State sophomore sprinter, with a time of 1:00.89 minutes.

In the triple jump, Riley made a MAC qualifying mark with a jump of 12.57 meters placing third just behind Hannah Smith, New Mexico State senior multi-event runner, with a mark of 12.59 meters and Atipa Mabonga, Southern Methodist University sophomore jumper, with a jump of 12.57 meters placing first and second respectively.

Junior distance-runner Mercer Mack and first-year distance-runner Hannah Ricci recorded personal bests in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and the 1,500-meters respectively.

Mack finished with a time of 11:19.03 minutes and Ricci recorded a time of 4:34.85 minutes. Teaberry said they excelled in both events and knew they came ready to compete.

“Other notable performances were Mack in the 3k steeplechase and Ricci in the 1,500 meters,” Teaberry said. “The heart these two athletes showed in their events was exhilarating to watch. “Huge [personal records] for both and just under the MAC auto times.”

The Huskies are back in action next Saturday in Terre Haute, Indiana to compete in the Indiana State Gibson Invitational.