FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona University track and field teams are hosting the Big Sky Indoor Conference Championships for the first time in three years, beginning Friday and Saturday at the Walkup Skydome. The Lumberjack men look to win there third conference title in four years, while the women will use a young team to help them climb back up the Big Sky standings.

"It's really special to be able to host the Big Sky meet, because it allows parents, friends, and alumni of our program to come back and see how our team has grown," said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Eric Heins. "Track and field usually focuses on individual performance, so hosting a conference meet means a lot more in that we can come together as a team in front of the home crowd."

The Lumberjacks enter the Big Sky Championships with seven athletes leading the conference in 11 different events. Six of those athletes, plus sprinter Adel al Nasser in the 400-meter dash, are ranked nationally in seven events. In addition to NAU's individual accomplishments, the men's 4x400-meter relay is tops in the Big Sky by a four-second margin, and is currently the 29th-fastest school nationally.

For the NAU men, Diego Estrada will lead a charge to get the team back atop the podium after missing first place in 2011 by the smallest margin in Big Sky history. Sacramento State captured the title last season by a score of 133-132.5.

Estrada's three national top-10 rankings and a monumental junior season have put him far and above most of the conference's competition. Estrada knocked over two NAU records this season: the mile (3:55.48@) record previously held by Olympian Lopez Lomong, and the 3,000-meter record (7:44.63) held by former teammate David McNeill.

Fellow distance runner Jordan Chipangama, however, is close behind Estrada in the mile and 3,000-meters, having been the only other athlete in the conference to run under four minutes. Chipangama's career-best time came at last week's NAU Tune-Up, giving him some momentum going into the two races, in addition to the 800 meters.

Lumberjack throwing tandem Pascal Tang and Nicole Elliott will be putting on a show for spectators at the north end of the Skydome in the weight throw this weekend, as both hope to capture individual crowns, and potentially earn an NCAA berth in the process. Elliott has earned personal-best throws four weeks in a row, and currently sits 24th nationally in the weight throw, while Tang PRed by over 18 inches at last week's NAU Tune-Up (66-7). Tang is 22nd in the nation in the event.

In the men's 400-meter dash, NAU has a great chance to take the top two spots, as junior Arnaud Froidmont and sophomore Adel al Nasser face off in the same race for the first time in 2012. Froidmont (47.02@) leads the conference, while al Nasser (47.13@) is close behind in second.

The Lumberjacks will fare well in all three jumping events this weekend, fielding four athletes in the long jump, two in the triple jump, and three in the high jump. Led by long and triple jumper Edgar Panford and high jumper Deante Kemper, a good portion of the team's points should come from those events.

The women will field a full team this weekend, but will need some stellar performances to keep up with preseason favorites Sacramento State and Weber State. Aside from Elliott, the Lumberjacks will look to freshmen standouts Darriel Banks (60m, 200m), Caroline Hogardh (800m, Mile), Jessica Bush (shot put), and Lisa Lantz (pole vault) to be at the top of their games, and hope to see leadership from seniors Rashida McKinnon (400m, 4x400m relay), Jenne Childs (60mH, long jump), Kortnee Burton (3K, 5K), and Haley Lawrence (800m, Mile) as well.

Junior Rochelle Kanuho also will be a valuable asset to the team in her competitions this weekend—the 3,000 and 5,000-meter runs. Kanuho earned a 34-second personal best in the 5,000 meters two weeks ago at the Husky Classic in Seattle, Wash., and hopes to continue to build off that momentum.

The Big Sky Conference Indoor Championships get underway Friday morning with the multi events at 9:15 a.m. Arizona time, followed by the throws at 3:15 p.m. and the running events at 4:30. Saturday's events include the multis beginning at 8 a.m., throws at 11 a.m., and running events at 1:30.

Ticket information for the meet can be found here.