Northern Arizona Opens Outdoor Track and Field Season at UC Irvine
	            	 /  March 20, 2015
		            
            	 
                
                     FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Northern Arizona track and field opens their outdoor campaign today at the UC Irvine Spring Break Invitational in Irvine, Calif. Events take place over all day today and tomorrow at UCI's Anteater Stadium. 
The Lumberjacks swept the outdoor titles last year when the 'Jacks hosted the championships at Lumberjack Stadium in May. At the indoor championships last month, the men's team picked up their fourth-straight indoor championships while the women finished third in a three-way battle that wasn't decided until the final event. 
Last week, Deante Kemper wrapped up the 'Jacks indoor season with an All-American finish in the men's high jump at the NCAA Championships. He finished fourth overall after clearing 2.20m. During the indoor season, he won his fifth Big Sky Championship in the high jump and set the school record at the Iowa State Classic when he cleared 7-04.25. 
Caleb Hoover - All-American in the steeplechase and cross country - has a final season for the 'Jacks coming up and will be joined by cross country All-American Matt McElroy for his final outdoor season. The distance team also lays claim to Big Sky Most Valuable Athlete Fustsum Zienasellassie, a three-time cross country All-American who finished in the top-four the past two years at the NCAA Championships. 
The men's sprint team had the Big Sky Champion in every discipline at the indoor championships, including Vernon Jamison in the 60m and 60m hurdles. In hurdles, he ranks second all-time for Northern Arizona and was in the top-20 in the nation. 
The women's team boasted two Big Sky Champions last month. Darriel Banks defended her 60m dash title from 2014 while Jessica Weise picked up the win after finishing second at the indoor and outdoor championships in 2014. 
Last fall, the women's distance team won the Big Sky Championship for cross country and had five medalists at the indoor championships with second-place finishes in the women's mile for Caroline Hogardh and the distance medley relay and a third-place finish for Kayla Freeman in the 5000m. 
Follow @nautrackfieldxc on Twitter for updates.