Photo Credit: Kelly Gorham, Montana State University

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona University men's track and field team sent redshirt-junior Futsum Zienasellassie to Birmingham, Ala., to compete at NCAA Division I Indoor Nationals this weekend. Zienasellassie is the only Lumberjack representing the NAU track and field program and will race in the 5000m event tomorrow, Mar. 11.

Zienasellassie has put together his best indoor track season to date, recording the top conference times in the mile, 3000m and 5000m events, while also being named the Big Sky's Most Valuable Athlete at indoor conference in late February for the second-consecutive season.  

At indoor conference, the native of Indianapolis, Ind., and newly named U.S. citizen as of January repeated as the 3000m champ and also secured the gold in the mile event. With both individual victories, Zienasellassie notched the most points of any athlete at the meet (20).

This indoor season, Zienasellassie at one point held the second-best mile time in the nation with a career-best 3:56.98@ time, a mark that sits at No. 5 nationally and as the second-best in Walkup Skydome history currently. Zienasellassie also ranks No. 19 in the 3000m event and No. 8 in the 5000m event. Additionally, Zienasellassie contributed to the men's distance medley relay team that set a school record at the Alex Wilson Invitational in February (9:39.19).

The NCAA Division I Indoor National meet officially begins tomorrow at 11 a.m. MT, but the 5000m event will take place at 7:05 p.m. MT. This will be Zienasellassie's first time competing on the national stage for indoor track.