IRVINE, Calif.  – Northern Arizona University's track & field team completed the final day of competition at the Spring Break Invitational. The team found great success across the board thanks to some very strong performances.

"For this to be our opener, I am very pleased with the overall performances," said assistant coach Kenny McDaniel. "Today was a good showing."

Sprints and Hurdles

Freshman Ashley Taylor opened up her outdoor career with a second place finish in the 400m hurdle event. Taylor's time of 60.03 is a new NAU school record in the event.

Darriel Banks was NAU's top athlete in the 200m dash. Banks was clocked at 24.48, third-best performance in the event. 

The women's 4x400 relay team of Taylor, Banks, Amanda Stricker and Shamelle Pless took second place this weekend. The group posted a time of 3:50.20 but was beat out by Fresno State who took first.

The Lumberjack men received some very strong contributions from its sprinter group. Michael Lyles, Taylor Schneider, Tessie Edwards and Vernon Jamison took first place in the men's 4x100-meter relay. The group was clocked at a time of 42.09 as they edged out Cal St. Fullerton.

Jamison also ran away with a first place finish in the men's 110m hurdles. The junior posted a time of 14.29 in the event. Jamison also posted the third-best time of 54.13 in the 400m hurdles. Dai McFadden made his 2014 debut in the 400m hurdles on the final day as well. McFadden's time of 54.9 was good for a fourth place finish in his heat. 

Schneider was top-performer in the 200m dash as the junior's 21.67 effort was just a hundredth of a second better than the second place finisher. Newcomer DeShon Norris continues to impress in the 400m dash. Norris' time of 48.56 garnered him a third place finish in the event.

Throws 

Kylene Knutsen followed suit with Lauren Stuart's performance on day one of competition. Knutsen was dominant in the women's javelin throw posting a best of 143-10 (43.84m) on the way to a first place finish. Sydney Leliefeld was also impressive in the event. The sophomore threw a best of 120-09 (36.8m) good for third place.

Jessica Weise was the Lumberjack's top performer in the women's shot put. Weise was third in the event thanks to a 47-11.25 (14.61m) effort.

Travis Colby was impressive in his 2014 javelin throw debut. Colby's mark of 175-09 (53.57m) led him to a second place finish in the event.

Shawn Collins also found success in Irvine this weekend. Collins took second place in the men's shot put after throwing a best of 55-07 (16.94m) 

Jumps

Deante Kemper continues to lead the way for the men's jump group. Kemper took first place in the high jump and was also NAU's best performer in the long jump. The junior cleared a best height of 6-09.75 (2.08m) in the high jump event. 

On the women's side Lauren Laszczak opened up her final outdoor season in familiar fashion, as she took first in the women's high jump. The senior cleared a best height of 5-07 (1.7m).

Alexis Clay was instrumental in NAU's success as well. Clay finished second in the women's long jump thanks to a best of 19-04 (5.89m). 

Distance

Melanie Townsend made her return to the track this weekend competing in the 1500m run. Townsend ran away with a first place finish in the event, edging out Loyola Marymount's Grace Graham-Zamudio with a 4:31.24 effort. 

Carissa Gwerder led the way for NAU in the women's 800m run. Gwerder took first in her heat after posting a time of 2:14.34.

On the men's side Matt McElroy made his outdoor-debut in the men's 1500m run.  McElroy was clocked at a time of 3:53.51 good for third place in the event.

Matt League led the way in the men's 800m run. League is coming off an All-Big Sky performance in the event and did not disappoint to start the outdoor season.  The sophomore finished second in his heat with a time of 1:54.49. Caleb Potts took sixth in his return from injury posting a time of 1:55.81.

The meet was scored and the Lumberjack women finished first with 155.5 points, while the men finished second with 138 points.