OGDEN, Utah (December 20, 2018) – Northern Arizona was unanimously picked to sweep the 2019 Big Sky Indoor Track & Field Championships in this year's Big Sky Indoor Track & Field Preseason Coaches' Poll. Both teams from Northern Arizona are the reigning Big Sky Champions after sweeping the conference title in 2018.
Both the men and the women's team from Northern Arizona received 11 first place votes for 121 points and return a strong roster.
The men return seven seniors including distance runners
Tyler Day who competed and placed ninth in the 2018 USATF Indoor Championships in the 3000m event and
Peter Lomong who was third last season in the same event at the conference championships.
The women for Northern Arizona return five seniors including
Jasmine Malone who took first in the 200m, 400m, 4X400m relay, and distance medley at last year's indoor championships.
In the men's poll, Southern Utah was selected to finish as the runner up with 105 points. The Thunderbirds return Kasey Knevelbaard who took first in the distance medley and mile at last year's championship.
Montana State received 87 points and was projected to round out the top three spots with a third place finish.
The remaining teams in the poll include Sacramento State (85), Weber State (83)Eastern Washington (58), Idaho (58), Montana (41), Idaho State (38), Portland State (26), and Northern Colorado (24).
Sacramento State finished as the runner up in the women's poll and received 100 points. Emilia Del Hoyo returns for her senior year after placing second in the triple jump, third in the pentathlon, and fourth in the long jump at last year's indoor championships.
Weber State received 97 points and was selected to finish third in the conference. The remaining teams in the women's poll include Southern Utah (72), Montana State (68), Eastern Washington (67), Montana (58), Northern Colorado (41), Idaho (38), Idaho State (31), and Portland State (19).
NAU has already seen some conference action once this season after having sent a small group on both the men's and women's teams to the Bobcat Preview hosted by Montana State in Bozeman, Mont., in early December.
The 2019 Big Sky Indoor Track & Field Championships will be hosted by Montana State from February 21-23 in Bozeman, Mont
2019 Big Sky Conference Preseason Indoor T&F Polls
MEN
1. Northern Arizona (11) 121
2. Southern Utah 105
3. Montana State 87
4. Sacramento State 85
5. Weber State 83
T6. Eastern Washington 58
T6. Idaho 58
8. Montana 41
9. Idaho State 38
10. Portland State 26
11. Northern Colorado 24
WOMEN
1. Northern Arizona (11) 121
2. Sacramento State 100
3. Weber State 97
4. Southern Utah 72
5. Montana State 68
6. Eastern Washington 67
7. Montana 58
8. Northern Colorado 41
9. Idaho 38
10. Idaho State 31
11. Portland State 19
First place votes in parenthesis
