FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The 2012 Big Sky Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships will open each day with the weight throw, one of the two throwing events in the championship. The men kickoff the meet Friday afternoon at 3:15 p.m. with the women's shot put contested Friday night. The women's weight throw is contested Saturday with the men's shot put later at 2 p.m.

Northern Arizona enters the meet with the conference leader in both weight throw events. Senior Pascal Tang has thrown more than two meters past his nearest competitor. He had a season-best throw of 66 feet, 7 inches at the NAU Tune-up. Pang will be chased by a pair of Eastern Washington sophomores in Zach Nielsen and Jordan Arakawa, who have both thrown over 59-5.

"I am really excited that my last indoor conference meet is going to be at home," said Tang.

Tang, who is now the second-best performer in school history, hopes to continue a tradition of Lumberjacks winning the event. NAU has captured the event six times since 2000. He was runner-up in the event last with a then personal-best of 64 feet, 10.75 inches.

"I am seeded really comfortably so I am really excited," said Tang. "I am looking to get the auto qualifier for nationals. So let's hope I get that done."

Senior Nicole Elliott also leads the conference entering the meet with a throw of 65 feet, 4.25 inches in the weight throw.  Elliott, ranked 24th in the nation, is less than two inches away from breaking three-time Olympian Anna Soderberg's 15-year-old school record. She is followed by Amanda Murphy of Montana State (63-5.5) and Ify Agwuenu (60-11.25).

"I think it is going to be a great competition on the girl's side,' said Elliott. "You never know what is going to happen. I am seeded in both events so I am really excited to see what I can do. I am two feet from nationals and two inches from the school record. I definitely think it is possible."

Elliott will also compete in the shot put on Friday, entering with the third-best mark in the field. MSU's Murphy has thrown the shot 49 feet, five inches at a meet in Bozeman earlier this season. Sacramento State's Agwuenu recorded a mark of 49-0.25 at the Husky invite, ranking third in the conference.

In the men's shot put, Sacramento State's Zach Coniglio has a season-best mark of 58 feet, 3 inches. He ranks ahead of Trevor Gilreath of Montana State (56-5.75) and NAU's Gus Margiotta, who has a best throw of 53 feet and 9.25 inches.

Multi Events

The heptahlon looks to be dominated by Montana State and Idaho State. The Bobcats have the top two performers in the competition, while the Bengals have four who achieved the Big Sky qualifying score and are ranked fourth thru seventh on the descending order list.  Asa Staven of Montana State has the top score in the conference with 5,691 points

Competition begins at 9:15 a.m. Friday morning.

Montana's Lindsey Hall is the top performer in the pentathlon entering the meet with a score of 3,842 points recorded at the BSU Team Challenge. Idaho State's Samantha Berryman ranks second with 3.555 points, while Carley McCutchen is third with 3,541 points.