By Eric DeSalvo, NAU Media Relations

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Some people say two is always better then one, and when it comes to high-caliber track and field athletes, the coaching staff at Northern Arizona feels the same way.

Juniors Amber Anderson and Shekila Wilkinson are new to the track and field squad at NAU after spending two years at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.

The transition from living in a city of more then 600,000 people to 60,000 has been sort of a culture shock, but Anderson and Wilkinson agree that their teammates have made the adjustment smoother for them.

“It was hard at first, but it has gotten a lot easier,” Anderson said. “I am still not used to the small town. I would say all the girls are fun, wild and crazy, so they were easy to get along with.”

The city isn't the only thing that is smaller to them. The track meets the pair used to attend at TCU were bigger then the ones held at the Walkup Skydome, but Wilkinson feels that plays up to their advantage.

“As far as track meets go, at TCU we would go to bigger meets then what we host here,” Wilkinson noted. “Our meets here give you us more of an advantage because of the altitude. It works out for us.”

Indeed it has worked out. The duo finds themselves near or at the top of the Big Sky performance list for the indoor season in their respective events.

“I think they have really made a huge impact,” Interim Director of Track and Field & Cross Country Eric Heins said about the two. “They have really raised up the level of the other athletes around them. That's what they have brought to the program thus far.”

They have also brought the possibility of scoring big points for NAU at the Big Sky Indoor Championships that take place in Bozeman, Mont., next weekend, and possibly further into the postseason.

“They can be major players at the Big Sky level for us and possibly even further if they continue to improve the way that they are improving,” Heins added.

Anderson's name has been at the top of the leader board in the long and triple jumps for most of the indoor season, and has an NCAA provisional mark in the triple jump that she recorded at the NAU Team Challenge (41-8.5).

Wilkinson has also enjoyed success in her first season with the Lumberjacks, and is currently ranked second in the Big Sky in the 200-meter dash behind teammate Annie Skordas. The Tulsa, Okla., native has also recorded a Big Sky qualifying mark in the 60-meter dash.

Although the two have enjoyed early success, they still have lofty goals for the rest of the season.

“I want to break both of the school records in the long and triple jump,” said Anderson. “I have recorded a provisional mark, but right now I am not going to Nationals because I still haven't jumped far enough. I would like to try and improve upon that mark. I also want to be number one in both jumps at the Big Sky Championships.”

Wilkinson feels the same way and knows that in order to achieve her goals, hard work will be the key factor.

“My goal is to try and win both my events at conference. I want to try and continue improving my times and eventually make it to the National meets.”