@ - denotes altitude-adjusted time

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Saturday went by in a blaze at the J.L. Walkup Skydome, at least in the case of Northern Arizona University true-freshman Isatu Fofanah. Fofanah ran a smoking time of 7.40@ to shatter the school's 60-meter dash record for the second time in as many career track meets and highlight the NAU Invitational for the Lumberjacks.

"It is fantastic to see Isatu come in as a true freshman and continue to improve, and it shows how great of an athlete she is and that she's doing the right things (in practice), " said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Eric Heins. "Coach (Kenny) McDaniel is doing a great job to prepare her for these meets, so it will be really exciting to see what she'll be doing in the championship time of the year."

Fofanah broke into the NAU record books last weekend at the Lumberjack Team Challenge, but with Saturday's performance, the Canada native's record mark is beginning to threaten those of the nation's best. At press time, Fofanah's was tied for 12th in the country, and was second among freshmen.

"It's a definite honor and I'm just grateful to be where I am, but I don't think it's really set in yet," said Fofanah. "All I remember was the finish, so that means I had a good start if I don't remember it. I'm just really blessed, and I never thought I would be where I am today."

It was Fofanah's performance that set the tone for the rest of the meet. Nine other Lumberjacks climbed atop the Big Sky Conference standings as a result of their Saturday performances, including Lauren Laszczak's career day in the high jump.

"It's awesome to see her jumping this well this early in the season, having gone 5-6 last week and 5-8 this week," said Heins. "As the defending conference champion indoors it has to give her a lot of confidence."

Laszczak cleared 5 feet, 8 inches (1.73 meters) on her third and final attempt at the height to finish second overall.

"It felt really good, and the thing I'm most excited about is that I'm becoming more consistent at lower heights in order to get to see higher heights," said Laszczak, a junior from Tucson, Ariz. "I have a few weaknesses I try to work on every time I'm jumping, like holding my (approach) or going straight up, so those are the things I try to keep consistent during the week."

On the men's side, Matt McElroy led a slew of Lumberjacks with a wire-to-wire performance in the 3,000 meters, clocking a personal-best time of 8:12.68@ and earning his first Big Sky qualifier as a Lumberjack. Sophomore Caleb Hoover (8:15.59@) and senior Roman Acosta (8:19.60@) also earned qualifiers. In the same race on the women's side just prior, true freshman Rolonda Jumbo got a conference nod of her own, running 9:54.30@ to comfortably clear the event's Big Sky standard for the first time in her career

Senior Agnes Laurent started her final season in Lumberjack gold off right, clocking a 2:11.47@ time in the 800 meters to earn a Big Sky qualifier and a personal best by nearly half a second.  In the men's 800 meters, fifth-year senior Myles Kloer won the first race of his career, edging out the field at the finish line in a time of 1:59.20@.

Other Big Sky leaders from Saturday, along with Fofanah, Laszczak, McElroy, and Laurent, included Lauren Stuart, who tossed a season-best 58-1.25 (17.71m) in the weight throw and won the event decisively, Deante Kemper, who re-upped on a league-leading high jump mark of 7 feet, 0.25 inches, and the men's 4x400-meter relay squad 3:16.30@) of freshman Cameron Coleman, Cody Bell, Arnaud Froidmont, and Adel al Nasser.

A number of other Lumberjacks also had season and career-best performances Saturday, earning Big Sky qualifiers in the process. Senior Kasandra Vegas notched a huge PR in the weight throw, marking 57-0 (17.37m) and claiming third place in the Big Sky standings. Also in the throws, redshirt sophomore Jessica Bush threw almost six feet farther than last week in the shot put with a mark of 46-10. Finally, in the women's sprints, Darriel Banks (60m) and Shamelle Pless (200m) earned Big Sky qualifiers in their short sprint events after running times of 7.68@ and 25.10@, respectively.

The Lumberjacks are heading into a two week break on a high note, giving the team a great deal of confidence in preparing for the annual Mountain T's Invitational, coming to the Dome Feb. 1 and 2.