FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (April 29, 2020) – After a one-year step back in 2019, the Northern Arizona women's indoor track & field team reclaimed their position as Big Sky Champions in 2020. The Lumberjacks posted their third Big Sky indoor title in the last four years during the last weekend of February and increased their conference-leading indoor championship total to 14 all-time.
Returning to the top was a dramatic run over three days in Pocatello, Idaho, including a final day rally that was ignited by the women's distance runners. Led by
Mikayla Malaspina, who was later named Big Sky Most Valuable Athlete, the Lumberjacks placed five in the top eight of the mile to begin their charge. NAU finally took the lead in the final individual event – the 3000m run – with four of the eight scoring finishers and cemented its title with a gold medal effort in the Distance Medley Relay.
Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Mike Smith, who picked up his second career Big Sky Women's Indoor Coach of the Year honor, stressed every point was important and that wound up proving to be instrumental as NAU's final total of 103 points edged out Sacramento State's runner-up total of 100.5. In a complete team championship effort, 14 different Lumberjacks scored points at the conference meet.
The 2020 NAU women's indoor track & field team is the seventh feature in NAU Athletics' month-long Celebration of Champions. Be sure to follow the celebration on
www.nauathletics.com and NAU Athletics on
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Instagram.
QUOTABLE
"The 2020 Women's Indoor season was one of the most special teams I've worked with because of how far this group came in just one year. Their story started one year before after a solid defeat in 2019. Our coaches tasked this group with responding. One year later, you saw a relentless 2020 campaign that ended with reclaiming the Big Sky Championship. We teach our athletes that winning is a byproduct of competing, and this championship was an example of just that. Their process was what should be celebrated. We were so proud of this team and this season was one we won't forget." – Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Mike Smith
2020 NAU WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD BY THE NUMBERS
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NAU won its conference-leading 14th Big Sky Women's Indoor Track & Field Championship. It was the program's third indoor title in the last four years. The 'Jacks also had 14 different student-athletes score points in at least one event. |
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The Lumberjacks posted three first-place finishes, including winning the Distance Medley Relay for the fourth consecutive year. |
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Mikayla Malaspina's win in the 5000m snapped an 11-year drought since a Lumberjack won the women's indoor 5K. Nell Rojas in 2009 was the last 'Jack to claim gold in the Big Sky women's indoor 5000m run. |
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Six Lumberjacks registered points in three events led by Mikayla Malaspina's scoring efforts in three individual events. Jada Jackson, Miracle Onyemaobi, Melanie Loff, Pipi Eitel and Jesselyn Bries each scored points in at least one relay. |
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NAU had seven Lumberjacks – Chloe Barylski, Jesselyn Bries, Pipi Eitel, Jada Jackson, Melanie Loff, Mikayla Malaspina and Miracle Onyemaobi – earn all-conference honors. |
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Mikayla Malaspina became the fourth Lumberjack in the last four years, joining Paige Gilchrist, Jasmine Malone and Hannah Behunin – to be a double champion at the Big Sky indoor meet. |
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Mikayla Malaspina is also the second NAU recipient of the Big Sky's Most Valuable Athlete award since the conference changed to its current awards format in 2011. Shanice McPherson garnered Big Sky Most Valuable Athlete accolades at the 2017 Indoor Championships. |
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The Lumberjacks placed five in the top eight scoring spots in the mile – a pivotal event on the third and final day – for NAU. |
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Prior to the championships, Madeline Wilson broke the longest-standing women's indoor school record during the Mountain T's Invitational on Jan. 31. With her Pentathlon total of 3,487 points, Wilson broke Monique Donithan's school record set in 1982 – a span of 38 years. |
PREVIOUS CELEBRATION OF CHAMPIONS
April 7 –
2019 NAU Women's Tennis
April 9 –
2019 NAU Men's Tennis
April 14 –
2019 NAU Men's Cross Country
April 16 –
2019 NAU Women's Cross Country
April 21 –
2020 NAU Dance
April 24 –
2020 NAU Swimming & Diving
