TUCSON, Ariz. – True freshman Micael Ljungberg was the highest-placing collegian in the men's discus with a throw of 166 feet, 6 inches (50.75m) Friday evening in Tucson at the Willie Williams Classic. Ljungberg's finish, coming in his first collegiate meet, was one of a handful of high marks by the Northern Arizona University track and field team on the first of two days of competition at the meet.

"We saw great technique today from a guy who hasn't really even had a lot of training outside yet this season," said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Eric Heins. "The fact that he can come out and put up a mark like that is a sign of a great things to come for Micael."

Ljungberg, a native of Sweden, snagged a Big Sky qualifier with a mark over eight feet farther than the league standard of 155-11.75 (47.54m).

Also notching high finishes for the Lumberjacks were steeplechasers Cody Reed and Agnes Laurent. Laurent, running first in the women's event, finished in second place with a Big Sky qualifier of 10:52.15. Reed, a junior from Danville, Calif., won his race immediately following in a time of 9:33.92.

Another second-place finish for NAU came in the women's javelin, as true freshman Kylene Knutsen notched a Big Sky qualifier in her first collegiate meet with a throw of 135-11.5 (41.44m). Teammate Brittany Price followed in fourth place with a throw of 132-10.5 (40.50m).

Sophomore Deante Kemper earned the only other second-place finish for the Lumberjacks on the meet's first day with a clearance of 6-10.75 (2.10m).

Notching bronze-medal performances were Lauren Stuart in the women's hammer throw (190-5/58.04m) and Lauren Justus in the women's 5,000 meters (18:00.47).

Lumberjacks placing fourth included Dai McFadden in the men's 400-meter hurdles in a conference-qualifying time of 54.00, Meagan Wakefield in the women's 400-meter hurdles in a time of 1:08.05, Kenzie Estes in the women's 5,000 meters (18:11.62), and Brian Thompson in the men's hammer throw (147-4/44.91m).

The Lumberjacks also had solid performances from the women's sprints crew, as Isatu Fofanah (24.52), Shamelle Pless (24.65), and Darriel Banks (24.68) all earned Big Sky Conference auto-bids in their first 200-meter dash of the season.

Senior Kasandra Vegas earned a conference qualifier as well with a fifth-place mark in the women's hammer throw of 162-4.75 (49.50m).

Rounding out the night were five Lumberjack competitors in the 1,500-meter run. Matthew League finished third (3:59.39) in the men's race to lead his team in the men's race, while Emily Bartz notched fifth place (4:49.12) as the highest NAU finisher for the women.

Action continues tomorrow from Roy P. Drachmann Stadium beginning at 10 a.m. Arizona time with the women's discus.