FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Eric Heins, along with assistance coach for throws Oscar Duncan, announced the signing of three athletes—distance runner Rolonda Jumbo of Chinle, Ariz. and throwers Julia Wiberg and Micael Ljungberg of Sweden—to compete for Northern Arizona University track and field beginning in the 2012-13 season.

Rolonda Jumbo – Chinle High School – Chinle, Ariz. – Distance

Personal Bests: 2:19.12 (800m), 4:55.94 (Mile), 10:34.71 (2-Mile), 17:43.99 (5K)

Jumbo comes to the Lumberjacks as one of Arizona's top female distance runners in the 2012 graduating class. She won the 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs at the Chandler Rotary Invitational last weekend in Chandler, Ariz., earning a personal best in the mile and a season best in the two-mile. Jumbo was crowned the 2011 AIA Division III cross country state champion last fall, and last spring she claimed third place in both the 800 and 1,600-meter runs while capturing the state title in the girls 3,200 meters at the 2011 AIA Division III state championships.

"Rolonda is a very talented athlete that will be able to come in and contribute right away," said Heins. "She has some of the fastest mile and two-mile times of anyone we've recruited out of high school, so she should come in and compete for our top three right away."

Julia Wiberg – Katedralskolan – Nyköping, Sweden – Throws

Personal Bests: 49.68/163-0 (Discus)

Wiberg will be an immediate contributor to a Lumberjack throws crew that will lose senior Big Sky weight throw champion Nicole Elliott after this season. She has competed in the European Athletics Junior Championships as a member of the Swedish national team, and her personal best mark in the discus (163-0) would lead the team currently.

"Julia is a great discus thrower, but she can throw the shot put as well," said Duncan. "She is a similar type of athlete to Anna Soderberg, who had great success here and went on to compete at the Olympic level, so she'll be able to come in and make an immediate impact as well."

Micael Ljungberg – Gripenskolan – Nyköping, Sweden – Throws

Personal Bests: 54.81/179-10

A standout athlete who also competed at the 2011 European Athletics Junior Championships in the discus, Ljungberg will arrive in Flagstaff ready to bolster an NAU men's throws crew that will lose honorable mention All-American Pascal Tang and Big Sky standouts Karl Gehrke and Pat Colonnelli to graduation this spring.  Ljungberg has potential to be a dynamic athlete that competes in more than one event for NAU.

"Micael has great size at about 6'5 and he already is a great discus thrower, but he's also capable of throwing shot as well," said Duncan. "Having an infusion of youth and talent like Micael and Julia is essential to building a strong throws program."