Lumberjacks Set to Open 2019 Indoor Track & Field Season at the Bobcat Preview

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (November 29, 2018) – Northern Arizona University's men's and women's track & field teams will enter the 2019 indoor season as defending Big Sky Champions after sweeping the conference finals last season. They will begin the new campaign on Dec. 1^st in Bozeman, Montana at the Bobcat Preview hosted by Montana State. The meet will take place at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on MSU's campus.
 
Participating teams will include Big Sky Conference opponents host MSU and the University of Montana, as well as Carroll College.
 
Results for the meet will be posted to the Track & Field Results Reporting System website immediately following the final events.
 
The sprints and hurdles team will see plenty of action during the Bobcat Preview. Carter Bracken is slated to participate in the men's 60 hurdles, 60m sprint and 200m events. This meets 4x400 men's team will consist of Bracken, Christopher Grant, Tyren Wolfe and a final runner to be determined. Grant and Wolfe will also compete in the 60m and 200m events as well.
 
"Our men's team certainly has lots of room for development this year," said head sprints and hurdles coach Alan Dunson. "For example, Tyren Wolfe has the kind of potential that makes him an all-around sprinter with a full skill set that puts him in a position to take it to that next level. I am extremely excited to see what they can at this meet and throughout the year."
 
For the women's sprints and hurdles squad athletes like Jasmine Malone will have a large presence at this event. Malone is set to run in the women's 200m and 400m events. Last season Malone raced in the 400m at the NCAA West Preliminaries and also took first-place at Big Sky Outdoor Championships in the both races.
 
"We have Jasmine in a process right now that allows her to keep an open vision and mind about what she is capable of," said Dunson. "She's got the potential to be an NCAA finalist this year."
 
The women's team will be racing in the 60m, 200m and 4x400 events. Sprinters making the trip to Bozeman include Clarissa Maxey, Jada Jackson, Miracle Onyemaobi and Helena McLeod.
"Our women's sprints and hurdles team has an invisible ceiling entering this year," added Dunson. "The skill level is there and it will be fun to see what they can do."
 
The NCAA world has already gotten a glimpse of the NAU long distance program after the men's cross country team won its third-straight Division I national title. The women's distance team will not be making an appearance at the Bobcat Preview.
 
The only distance event of the day that the Lumberjack men will be competing in will be in the form of the 5000m event. Cross Country All-American runners Peter Lomong, Geordie Beamish, Tyler Day, Blaise Ferro and Luis Grijalva will be in Bozeman to begin their 2018 indoor campaign. Freshman Brodey Hastey will be seeing his first action representing NAU since arriving this fall. Hastey's debut has been highly anticipated by the collegiate running world.

NAU's throws team will not be making an appearance at the event.
 
"We are looking forward to opening up the indoor track season at Montana State this weekend," said Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Michael Smith. "This is a small preview for a few athletes to see where their fall training has taken them. I'm excited to have the tone set for what we think will be an unforgettable two seasons ahead for NAU Track & Field."
 
"I am a strong believer in starting strong," concluded Dunson. "My philosophy is to have our team come out the gates that way as opposed to starting slow and figuring out how to catch up. I expect our athletes to treat any competition we are at this year the same way they do in our training sessions."