NEW ORLEANS, La. (November 29, 2021) - Northern Arizona University's Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Michael Smith has been awarded his fourth career Bill Dellinger Award after an outstanding fall season.
The NAU men earned their fifth national championship in the last six years, sealing the deal in a big way, as they won the meet by 45 points and all five scorers earned All-American honors.Â
Prior to their NCAA championship victory, the Lumberjack men displayed a dominant season, maintaining their No. 1 ranking and winning every meet on their schedule, with the exception of Mountain Regionals.Â
Opening their season at the Oklahoma State Cowboy Jamboree, it was clear that the NAU men were prepared for battle, placing five men within the top-16, and seeing their sixth and seventh men finish within the top-22.
Their next conquest came several weeks later at the Florida State Pre-National meet in which the Lumberjacks scored five men in the top-25, finishing with a total of 64 points, and beating the nearest competitor by a 64 point deficit.Â
Next, they confidently conquered their 30th Big Sky Championship team title, as All-American sophomore Drew Bosley secured individual champion and their last scorer finished 15th.Â
One week ahead of nationals the NAU men placed second at the NCAA Mountain Regional meet, with All-American freshman Nico Young finishing second overall, and the remaining scorers all falling within the top-26, conclusively earning an automatic national bid.Â
Throughout the course of this season and his career, Smith has demonstrated the importance of team ideals and has encouraged the NAU cross country program to define what teammates and teamwork mean to them; in this case, it appeared as a national championship.
