'Jacks Divide and Conquer in Vegas and Virginia

LAS VEGAS, Nev. and CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (April 16) - The Northern Arizona throwers excelled in Nevada while the distance crew went to work in Virginia.

All 13 throwers who competed today finished within the top-eight of their respective events. 

The men's shot put was championed by senior Parker Joens, throwing not only a personal best, but a new UNLV Myron Partridge Stadium facility record of 19.01 meters. This mark lands Joen's at the top of the conference and currently ranks 19th in the NCAA. 

Fellow Lumberjack senior Nick Coghill placed second and also threw a personal best mark of 18.33 meters, which currently ranks third in the Big Sky, and 39th in the NCAA. 

Men's throwers sophomore Jake Arnold (17.50m), and freshmen Parker Bays (16.11m), and Jake Tucker (15.40m) rounded out the men's shot put placing fourth, fifth and eighth respectively; Arnold's mark places fifth in the league currently. 

The women's shot put was dominated by freshman Alaina Diggs who threw a personal best mark of 16.13 meters to earn her the No. 1 mark in the conference and 39th in the NCAA right now. 

Freshman Carly Watts (14.21m) and junior Matilde Roe (14.11m) completed the women's shot put in third and fourth respectively; Watts' mark places her fifth in the Big Sky at the moment. 

The men's and women's hammer throw was also successful for the Lumberjacks.

Senior Jacob Kaufman (59.53m) and freshman CJ McMullen (53.46m) competed in the men's hammer throw, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

In the women's hammer, freshmen Kimberly Buchanan (52.13m) and McKenna Chaney (52.00m) along with sophomore Jennifer Slater (51.27m) placed third, fourth, and fifth sequentially. 

Meanwhile in Virginia, five men and three women ran in the 5000 meter race. 

Freshman Santiago Gomez-Prosser led the Lumberjack men, placing 11th overall with a time of 13:51.46; this time is currently second best in the conference and 28th in the NCAA this season. 

Theo Quax (junior) placed 18th with a time of 13:55.47, the fourth best time in the Big Sky right now. 

Senior John Shea finished with a time of 14:09.58 to place 26th; Shea's time rounds out the eight top slots in the league. 

Caleb Easton (sophomore) and Aldo Marquez (senior) placed 28th and 49th overall with times of 14:12.64 and 14:34.59 respectively.

On the women's side, senior Jeralyn Poe led NAU finishing fourth overall with a top conference time of 15:49.52; Poe's time is also ranks No. 11 in the NCAA at this time. 

Fellow senior Lumberjack Mikayla Malaspina finished directly behind Poe in fifth with a time of 16:00.51, which places Malaspina third in the conference and 25th in the NCAA so far this season. 

In her outdoor season debut, junior Jessa Hanson placed ninth with a time of 16:06.73; Hanson's time currently lands her fifth in the Big Sky and 32nd in the nation. 

The throws crew will compete again tomorrow at the UNLV Silver State Classic beginning with the women's discus at 10:00 A.M. MST. 

Stay up to date with the Lumberjacks by following NAU Track & Field and Cross Country on Twitter and Instagram.