AUSTIN, Texas – The Northern Arizona track & field team continued their participation at the NCAA Track & Field West Regionals meet on Saturday as Julia Viberg, Vernon Jamison and Cody Reed represented the Lumberjacks. Viberg and Jamison highlighted the day as Viberg qualified for nationals in the discus throw and Jamison advanced to the quarterfinals of the 110-meter hurdles.

Viberg started the day for NAU in the discus throw with the hopes of clinching a spot for nationals in two weeks. Going in with the ninth best throw in the West (57.07m) Viberg started the day with her first throw going for 52.55m. The native of Sweden followed up with a throw of 51.14 in her second attempt. After two rounds, Viberg sat in 16^th place, needing to move up four seeds in order to qualify for nationals. With all the pressure on the line, Viberg delivered her best throw of the day with a mark of 54.51m to finish seventh in the region.

"It was do or die for Julia in the third round and she rose up and hit her final throw," said throws coach Nathan Ott. "She is a tough competitor and she was not at her best today but she was able to get it done and that is a testament to what a great athlete she is."

This will be Viberg's second appearance at the NCAA National Championships as she made her first national meet her freshman season. Viberg went into the meet as the seventh best seed and she did not disappoint finishing in the exact seed.

"I tried to keep calm because I knew that I needed a throw around 53-meters," said Viberg. "Nationals is always special because you are able to compete against world-class athletes and I am very excited for the opportunity."  

Up next for the Lumberjacks was Jamison in the 110-meter hurdles as the native of Queen Creek, Ariz. went into the race with the 28^th best time of 14.12. Jamison was in heat four and within the heat Jamison had the fourth fastest time out of the seven sprinters. Two months earlier, Jamison ran a 14.28 at the Texas Relays and the senior came back with vengeance. Jamison delivered his best race of his life running a personal-record 13.85, finishing third in his heat.

"I am so happy to advance and go to the next round because the whole goal is to get to Eugene," said Jamison with a big smile on his face. "I could have done better but I had a great start to my race and this is a sign that I could keep improving."

Jamison finished 16^th overall moving up 12 spots from his ranking going into the regionals and will compete tomorrow in the quarterfinals in Austin.

"For Vernon to run his lifetime-best time was our goal this season," said sprinters coach Kenny McDaniel. "It was a remarkable race and he will have a successful day tomorrow as long as he continues to do what he did today."

In the final event of the night, Reed took part in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Reed went into the race with as the 36^th seed with a season-best 8:56.81 and was a part of a 16-man group in flight one to kick off the event. Reed posted the 12^th fastest time in his heat and the senior would run 9:06.81 to finish eighth in his heat and 26^th overall.

NAU will close out the weekend tomorrow in the final day of the meet with four athletes representing the Blue & Gold. Melanie Townsend will compete in the 5,000-meter race, Futsum Zienasellassie, Matt McElroy and Weston Strum will partake in the 5,000m race and Kylene Knutsen will participate in the javelin.