FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (March 18, 2021) - Northern Arizona track & field will be traveling to Tucson, Ariz. on Friday to compete at the Willie Williams Classic, hosted by the University of Arizona; the meet will take place Friday and Saturday.
Friday, the field events begin with the women's hammer throw at 12 p.m. MST, while the women's 400-meter hurdles will open the running events at 5:30 p.m. MST. On Saturday, the field opens with men's triple jump at 11:30 a.m. MST while the running will commence at 12:05 p.m. MST with the women's 100-meter hurdles.
The Lumberjack men and women will participate alongside Arizona State, Grand Canyon University, New Mexico State, Texas A&M, and the University of Arizona.
Resuming the outdoor season after a week's rest from their successful showing at the UNLV Spring Opener on March 6, the 'Jacks are coming in hot.
The sprints squad returns to competition with speedy seniors Jada Jackson, and Miracle Onyemaobi, both of whom set new personal records in their respective events earlier this month. Jackson also placed first overall in the women's 100-meter dash at the UNLV Spring Opener.
Jackson will be running in the women's 100-meter, 200-meter, 4x100-meter relay, and the 4x400-meter relay, while Onyemaobi will race in the 200-meter and both relays as well.
In February, Jackson and Onyemaobi placed second and third sequentially in the women's 200-meter race at the UNLV Winter Challenge.
Men's top sprinters David Dunlap (junior) and Matthew Roma (freshman) had a similar feat, each setting personal bests at the UNLV Spring opener. Dunlap also championed the 100-meter dash, contributing to a Lumberjack sweep of the event.
Dunlap will enter the men's 200-meter, as well as the 4x100-meter relay, and the 4x400-meter relay. He received first place in the men's 200-meter at the UNLV Winter Challenge as well.
Roma will compete in the 100-meter, 200-meter, and the 4x100-meter relay.
As for the hurdlers, junior Carter Bracken and freshman Kiana Kai will both be racing at Willie Williams after sweeping first place finishes in the men's 110-meter hurdles and women's 100-meter hurdles respectively two weeks ago.
Bracken will compete in the men's 400-meter hurdles, an event he placed second in at the UNLV Spring Opener, the 4x100-meter relay, and the 4x400-meter relay, while Kai will once again run in the 100-meter hurdles, and the 400-meter hurdles, an event she placed second in as well earlier this March.
Thirteen additional sprinters and hurdlers will join in competing for the Lumberjacks this weekend.
The jumps crew will feature ten Lumberjack athletes; a group that finished the UNLV Spring Opener with a total of ten personal bests.
NAU men's top jumper freshman Mitchell Effing returns to the triple jump and the long jump this weekend after setting new personal records in each event, along with placing first and second in each event respectively earlier this month.
Effing also secured first place in triple jump in February at the UNLV Winter Challenge.
Freshman Jack Normand will be competing in the men's long jump, triple jump and the high jump. Normand took first at the UNLV Winter Challenge in the long jump, and finished just behind Effing in the long jump and the triple jump at the UNLV Spring Opener.
Normand will also make his outdoor high jump collegiate debut in Tucson.
Meanwhile, the Lumberjack women will once again showcase their depth, as they have taken turns leading their respective events all season.
Junior Jenna Figueroa led the NAU women in the triple jump at both UNLV meets this season, while freshmen Courtney Weisenberger and Lily Margolis have each finished at the top of the team at the UNLV Winter Challenge, and the UNLV Spring opener sequentially.
Freshmen Joelle Santiago and Madeline Wilson are also scheduled to make their outdoor collegiate debuts in pole vaulting and the high jump respectively this weekend.
Now that the cross country season has come to a close, some distance runners will also be in the mix at the Willie Williams Classic.
Senior Ryan Lanley and Junior Melanie Loff will make a comeback in the men's and women's 800-meter race.
Two weeks ago, Lanley finished first in the men's 800-meter race at the UNLV Spring Opener, while Loff placed second overall for the women.
This distance duo will also compete in the men's and women's 1500-meter race, an event Lanley placed first in, and Loff took third in, at the UNLV Winter Challenge this February.
Twelve other distance runners will join the 'Jacks and make their outdoor season debuts.
The throws unit has made monstrous growth this year across the board and intends to make their mark in Tucson.
Senior Parker Joens championed both the men's shot put, and discus two weeks ago in Las Vegas. However, senior Jake Arnold topped the shot put leader board while freshman CJ McMullen won the discus at the UNLV Winter Challenge last month.
At the UNLV Spring Opener, the men's hammer throw saw junior Jack Murphy headline the event for the NAU men, and place second overall. But, in February, sophomore Will Beaudry hit a new personal record and placed first in the men's hammer throw.
Beaudry is set to make his javelin season debut this weekend.
As for the women, freshman Eniko Sara set a new NAU school record in the javelin during her collegiate debut at the UNLV Spring Opener.
Junior Matilde Roe has also had massive success, setting a personal record and winning the women's discus, as well as leading the NAU women in the shot put with a second place finish earlier this March. Additionally, Roe earned first place in the women's shot put in Las Vegas this past February.
Freshman Kimberly Buchanan has been consistent this season as she led the Lumberjack women, placing second overall in the women's hammer throw at both UNLV meets this season.
Nine more throwers will compete for the Lumberjacks in Tucson this Friday and Saturday.
Stay tuned for updates on the NAU Track & Field and Cross Country Twitter and Instagram.
