DON KIRBY INVITATIONAL DAY ONE RESULTS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (February 13, 2020) – A pair of Lumberjacks – senior
Cameron Rayford and sophomore
William Beaudry – posted runner-up finishes in their respective events to highlight the Northern Arizona track & field team's first day of the Don Kirby Invitational on Thursday.
Rayford was narrowly edged out for the top overall finish in the men's long jump by Oregon's Kasin Pendergrass Anderson, as the senior jumper placed second overall. Despite Anderson's first-place jump of 7.50m, Rayford managed to tie his collegiate-best set at last season's Big Sky Indoor Championships with a mark of 7.48m, which vaulted him up to second in the conference this season.
In the men's weight throw, Beaudry was the top Lumberjack finisher with a personal-best mark of 20.17m as he continues his strong sophomore campaign. Beaudry was joined in the top five by senior
Kevin Cooney, who placed fifth with a top throw of 19.27m.
NAU's women's weight throwers also had a successful showing with freshman
Kimberly Buchanan launching a personal-best throw of 16.95m, nearly a full meter more than her previous best mark. Buchanan has upped her best mark of the season in each meet this season and now ranks eighth in the Big Sky. Redshirt senior
Paige Inman also recorded a personal-best herself in the weight throw with a mark of 15.26m.
While Lumberjacks' veteran women's sprinters – juniors
Miracle Onyemaobi and junior
Jada Jackson – narrowly missed out on their season-best times in the 200m dash with times of 24.79 and 24.93 respectively, a pair of freshmen set new collegiate personal-bests in their first career meets away from home. Freshmen
Kenashalee Kerr and
Kenya Coburn clocked 200m times of 24.98 and 25.19 respectively.
Like on the women's side, NAU's trio of freshman
Joseph Hylton, junior
Carter Bracken and freshman Koa Tuipala each narrowly missed out on season-best times in the men's 200m. Hylton led the group with a time of 22.48, while Bracken turned in a time of 22.62 and Tuipala crossed the line at 23.11.
NAU's sprinters, throwers and jumpers will wrap up the Don Kirby Invitational on Friday, while the Lumberjacks' distance crew will open the Husky Classic in Seattle, Wash. as well tomorrow.
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