After consistent rainfall in Portland, the Meriwether National Golf Club course presented wet and muddy conditions for the race on Friday morning, but not even unfavorable circumstances could derail the NAU athletes.
The Lumberjack women finished first overall for the third year in a row, after four career-best performances, placing three women in the top-7, and scoring a total of 37 points.
"We had a very contained range of outcomes, and I think it epitomized team racing," Director of Cross Country and Track & Field
Michael Smith said.
O'Neill earned her second straight individual title after running a huge personal best of 16:31.6, with redshirt freshman
Elise Stearns (16:47.6) placing sixth and senior
Pipi Eitel finishing seventh with a significant personal record of 16:47.6.
Meanwhile, junior
Bryn Morley ( 16:57.2) and sophomore
Annika Reiss (16:59.9) rounded out the team score respectively placing 11th and 12th also having notable career best times.
Redshirt sophomore
Meagan Van Pelt (17:03.3) and freshman
Maggi Congdon (17:04.7) made their conference debuts as well.
"It was a good mix of veterans and people that are just gaining their experience at NAU, and I think that the accountability they practice in training revealed itself today in the race," Smith added.
The men's race followed, with the Lumberjacks placing four in the top-8, scoring a total of 30 points to place first overall and regain the team conference title.
"They were certainly motivated and wanted to maintain the great legacy that NAU has from competing at the conference meet," Smith said.
Since 2000, the NAU men have now earned 18 Big Sky trophies.
"This meet connects us to our history," Smith explained, "it's important that we know the success of the men's program did not just begin recently, but has been building for decades".
Bosley achieved his second career individual championship, running a time of 23:15.6, with All-American freshman
Nico Young on his heels (23:16.0). Meanwhile, All-American redshirt sophomore
Abdihamid Nur (23:21.6) placed fourth and redshirt junior
George Kusche (23:42.0) placed eighth.
Freshman
Tristian Merchant (24:15.4) finished 15th in his conference debut and earned Big Sky Men's Freshman of the Year.
Redshirt freshman
Caleb Easton (24:25.8) made his Big Sky debut as well, placing 19th, ahead of seasoned redshirt senior
Aldo Marquez (24:38.1) in 27th.
With regionals approaching, the team will take time for some much needed recovery and training leading into the remaining postseason.
The Lumberjacks will compete on Nov. 12 at the Mountain Region meet.
