MARQUETTE – A pair of Northern Michigan University sprinters and a relay team advanced Thursday to the finals of those events in the first day of the GLIAC Outdoor Championships in downstate Hillsdale.

Wildcat senior Brittni Wirtz ran the fourth-fastest qualifying time to make the finals of the 100-meter dash, clocking a 12.02.

NMU junior Avadon James ran the third-fastest qualifying time in the 200 dash to qualify for the finals with a time of 25.16.

In addition, the Wildcats’ 4×100 relay team also advanced to the finals of the event, running the seventh-fastest time at 48.80.

“We had a strong first day of competition … ,” NMU head coach Jenny Ryan said. “We still have scoring opportunities in the coming field events, along with some of the running events.”

The Wildcats continue action at the GLIAC Championships today.