Andersen Records Fifth-Best Mark in NCAA History in Women’s Hammer; Baxter Runs Fastest Time in Nation in Men’s 5000m as T/F Opens the Weekend at Two LA Area Meets

LOS ANGELES - Brooke Andersen recorded the fifth-best mark in NCAA history as she won the women's invitational hammer throw at the Mt. Sac Relays and Matt Baxter ran the fastest time in the nation in the men's 5000-meter race at Azusa Pacific University's Bryan Clay Invitational as the Northern Arizona University track and field program opened its weekend at two LA area meets on Thursday.

Andersen's performance of 72.15-meters set a new record for not only NAU and the Big Sky Conference; it was also the seventh-best toss in the world in 2018.

"I'm ecstatic for Brooke and Coach Ott as I know these are marks that they knew was possible but still required execution," director of track and field Michael Smith said. "The throws are not just a physical challenge but also a physiological challenge and Brooke series today was one of the most consistent and well executed of her career. It's a sign of all of the work that she has put into this year and I'm excited for her second half of the season."

Coming into tonight the goal was for Baxter to get himself into the conversation for the NCAA Outdoor National Championships. He did more than that as he recorded the fastest time ran in the country and the third-best mark in NAU and Big Sky history at 13:31.00.

"I work with Matt each day and that's the best I've seen him look since his runner-up finish at the NCAA Cross Country National Championship," Smith added. "In his first race this year in outdoor track, he showed he was one of the best distance runners in the country. His commitment to the pace and his execution in racing showed great maturity tonight. This was a big step forward in this event for him."

It was another night of personal bests for the rest of the Lumberjacks who set 10 personal records on the evening.

Cade Burks (14:31.59), Beau Prince (14:31.75), Ryan Wolff (14:37.05), Blaise Ferro (13:50.16) and Jack Shea (14:08.74) joined Baxter in setting new personal bests in their heats of the 5000-meter event.

Kyle Havriliak added a second-place finish and a new personal record in the men's 3000-meter steeplechase (9:11.66) while Zoe Wall set a new mark in the women's 5000-meter event (18:06.27).

Tiana Hatler-Stefick also competed at the Mt. Sac Relays with the throwing unit as she recorded a season-best mark of 57.07m to come in fourth in the women's collegiate hammer event.

"We teach that personal records are a byproduct of a process and we put great value on racing the senario the athletes are given and that is what I was most proud of tonight," Smith said. "There were many different situations in which our athletes were just competing in their given situation and personal bests and personal records are yielded from competing like this."

"We are seeing this top to bottom out of freshman to veterans including athletes competing in new events," Smith concluded. "We have athletes just beginning their journey in events along with athletes putting up some of the best times in the country. We have people racing really well and the personal bests are a sign of that. If that's happening top to bottom like this in a program that says our process is where it's supposed to be.

The Lumberjacks return to action with two meets on Friday. The throwing unit will be at the Long Beach Invitational while the sprinters, jumps and distance groups will be competing at the final day of the Bryan Clay Invitational. NAU athletes will get underway beginning at 8:10 a.m. MST at Azusa Pacific and 9 a.m. MST at Long Beach.

Fans can follow along with all of the action at the Bryan Clay Invitational here and the Long Beach Invitational at this link. Live results will also be provided on the NAUTrackFieldXC twitter page. A full preview including times for the weekend can be found here.

NAU Athlete Results

Mt. Sac Relays

Women's Hammer Collegiate
4. Tiana Hatler-Stefick - 57.07m

Women's Hammer Invitational
1. Brooke Andersen - 72.15*

Bryan Clay Invitational

Men's 3000 Steeple
2. Kyle Havriliak - 9:11.66*

Women's 5000 Heat 7
3. Zoe Wall - 18:06.27*

Men's 5000 Heat 5 (Burks, Prince, Wolff)
7. Cade Burks - 14:31.59*
8. Beau Prince 14:31.75*
13. Ryan Wolff - 14:37.05*

Men's 5000 Heat 1
6. Matt Baxter - 13:31.00*
14. Blaise Ferro - 13:50.16*

Men's 5000m Heat 2
16. Peter Lomong - 14:10.33

Women's 5000 Heat 2
5. Emily Roughan - 16:31.23
16. Paige Gilchrist - 16:49.05
22. Jenna Hanson - 16:58.19*
25. Miranda Myers - 17:03.22

Men's 5000 Heat 3
3. Jack Shea - 14:08.74*