Three Lumberjack Distance Runners Headed to NCAA Outdoor Championships in Austin for 5k

RESULTS

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 25, 2019) - Three more Lumberjacks will be making the trip to Austin this June for the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships after Geordie Beamish, Brodey Hasty and Luis Grijalva punched their tickets in the Men's 5,000m Run on Saturday evening in Sacramento at NCAA West Regionals.

Beamish was the top finisher in his heat with the true freshman Brodey Hasty not far behind. Beamish ended the race in 14:06.00 and Hasty crossed the finish line at 14:07.66. Both student-athletes had great efforts during the last 2k to position themselves in the front two spots of their heat. Beamish, one of the nation's best kickers, made use of the slow paced first heat to take control during the last quarter of the race, with a final mile of 4:07. Hasty moved up strong in the final 300m showing a lethal kick that the Lumberjack faithful had yet to see from the freshman, closing his final mile in 4:08. Hasty would be the only freshman to make it to Austin in that event.

With one heat to go, featuring some of the nation's top 5000m runners, Grijalva had to remain in the top seven to qualify for finals. He had the top time for the Lumberjacks in the 5k at 13:49.09 to seal his spot in the Lone Star State in just under two weeks. The sophomore raced in front of a home crowd and was able to put on a show while leading for several of the key laps. Like his teammates Grijalva's last mile was a blistering 4:08 to keep him in the field.

This will make four 'Jacks that have punched their tickets to Austin this summer. With Tyler Day having secured his spot in the 10k on Thursday, NAU looks to be well represented at outdoor nationals this year.

"Our athletes did a great job executing," said Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Michael Smith. "We are sending a strong contingent to Austin. This meet was just the first step, now it is about competing like NAU does at National Championships." 

Yesterday, Maggie Carruth ended her illustrious NAU career in the Women's 800m Run. The senior made her third trip to NCAA West Regionals in that event and despite not qualifying for nationals made her presence felt throughout the race and has left a major impact on the program in Flagstaff.

NCAA Outdoor Championships will be held from June 5th-8th, with Day's 10k taking place on the fifth and the Lumberjack trio's 5k on the seventh. 

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