FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona University track and field team competed in its final indoor meet this afternoon—the NAU Tune Up—at the Walkup Skydome before heading to Bozeman, Mont., for conference championships next week.

A majority of the NAU athletes have hit qualifying marks already this season, so the competing roster today consisted of a mixture of Lumberjacks pushing for a "last chance" qualifying mark, as well as those looking to straighten things up before conference.

"There's a reason why they call it the 'NAU Tune Up,'" said Associate Head Coach and Sprints & Hurdles Coach Kenny McDaniel. "We're definitely tuning up for the conference meet, and the reason I'm happy is because everyone is peaking at the right time. That's the best feeling for an entire group. I'm pleased with how everyone performed today. Normally, you don't walk away from a meet thinking that, but I can absolutely say I'm pleased with how everybody competed."

Shawn Collins of the throws unit qualified in the men's shot put event last week at the NAU Invite, but topped his previous season-best throw recording a 16.94m, 55-07.00 mark today. Micael Ljungberg also tallied a new season- and career-best with a 15.90m, 52-02.00 throw this afternoon, but just missed out on punching a ticket to conference.

The women's throw unit added another conference qualifier in Rachel Pott, who threw a career-best 14.18m, 46-06.25 in the women's shot put event for seventh place. Jessica Weise, a previous qualifier in the shot put, notched a season-best 15.27m, 50-01.25 throw, which placed her third overall.

"It's hard to put one highlight on the day, but the women's shot put event was really good," said Assistant Coach and Throws Coach Nathan Ott. "Weise was over 50 feet for the first time this season, getting closer to where she's at. Pott had a big personal record today, she qualified for conference, and Jasmine Ecker had a small PR today, but she's up there too along with Tiana [Hatler-Stefick]. The conference takes 16 athletes and we have a quarter of the field; that's pretty fun to be a part of."

Bria Edwards led the way for the NAU women in the 200m event, sprinting past her previous career-best and setting a new personal record at 25.21@ for a sixth-place finish. Teammates Clarissa Maxey and Nicole Fontios were hot on Edwards' tail though, coming in with times that placed them at No. 7 and 8, respectively.

In the women's 800m, Maggie Carruth hit a season-best 2:13.86@ time—good enough for a first-place finish in the event—while Peter Lomong, Geordie Beamish and Michael Chin all finished one, two, three in the men's 800m race. Beamish, running in his first 800m event of the year, qualified with a 1:52.92@ time, while Chin topped his previous season-best qualifying time with a 1:52.99@ mark today.

As mentioned above, the Lumberjacks who have qualified will head to Bozeman next Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 25-27, for indoor conference championships. The men's team is coming off four-straight indoor conference titles, while the women's team finished third overall in 2015.