Heat Sheets

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Northern Arizona Track and Field is set to open another season this Friday when they host the Friday Night Duals starting at 3 p.m. in the Walkup Skydome.

Both the men and women are defending indoor and outdoor Big Sky Track and Field Champions and were predicted to defend their indoor titles by conference coaches yesterday. The 'Jacks also have momentum stemming from their men's and women's cross country championships this past November.

"We'd like to get a good idea of where everyone is at," said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Eric Heins about his goals for the meet. "This is a good opportunity to see where people are at and what areas they need to improve on."

Leading the charge for the Lumberjack men this season will be defending indoor and outdoor Big Sky High Jump Champion Deante Kemper. In the USATFCCA preseason rankings, Kemper's 2014 height of 2.19m ranks 10th.

At the indoor championships, Kemper won his third Big Sky title in the men's high jump while also contributing points in the 60m hurdles. At the outdoor championships, he picked up his fourth title in the high jump and earned All-Conference honors in the 110m hurdles. He competed at both the NCAA West Preliminary Round and the NCAA Outdoor Championships. He competes in the 60m dash and high jump on Friday.

Vernon Jamison is another member of the men's team looking to contribute big in 2015. At last year's indoor championships, Jamison helped the 4X400m team to a Big Sky Championship while picking up his own individual championship in the 60m hurdles. At the outdoor championships, he picked up a title in the 110m hurdles and added points to the 'Jacks total in the 400m hurdles, 4X100m relay and 4X400m relay. He'll compete in the 60m dash, 200m dash and 60m hurdles on Friday.

On the women's side, Darriel Banks is back to lead the women's team to a repeat indoor championship. Banks holds the school record in the women's 60m dash with a time of 7.39 and won the Big Sky Championship. During the outdoor season, she was named Big Sky All-Conference in the 100m dash and was a part of the 4X100 relay team that finished fourth at the conference meet. Banks competes in the 60m dash and the 200m dash on Friday.

Shamelle Pless also returns as a force for the sprints corps. She broke the school record in the 200m with her Big Sky Championship time of 23.86. She also contributed points with top eight finishes in the 60m dash and the 4X400m relay. During the outdoor season, she competed in five events, scoring points in four of those.  She'll represent the 'Jacks in the 200m and 400m on Friday.

Alexis Clay is the 'Jacks top returning jumper. She won the indoor long jump championship with a career-best distance of 5.98m and finished third in the triple jump with a distance of 12.06m. At the outdoor championships, she finished second in the long jump and fifth in the triple jump to contribute points to the 'Jacks team score. She'll compete in both those events along with the 60m dash on Friday.

Jessica Weise looks to compete in both the shot put and weight throw. She finished second in the shot put at both the indoor and outdoor championships.

Also competing on Friday are members from the women's cross country team that won a Big Sky Championship and the men's team that won their eighth consecutive Big Sky Championship before taking fourth at the NCAA National Championships.

Futsum Zienasellassie finished third overall at the NCAA Championships and will compete in the 3000m on Friday along with teammate Nathan Weitz. Alejandro Montano and Cody Reed – also from the championship team - are competing in the mile and the 800m.  

On the women's side, Kayla Freeman, Kylee Kieser and Heather LaPlante represent in the 3000m while Lauren Justus, Kylie Goo and Shayla Freeman take on the mile. Shayla Freeman, Goo and Justus also appear in the 800m run.

Arizona, Arizona State, Grand Canyon, Southern Utah and San Diego State are all travelling to Flagstaff to compete. Southern Utah opened their season on January 9 at BYU, but it marks the first outing of the season for the rest of the competition.

Field events – starting with the men's pole vault and women's long jump – are set to begin at 3 p.m. while running events kick-off at 5 p.m.