Track & Field May 13, 2022 Adrianna Candelaria, NAU Athletic Communications

NAU Women Lead Conference Entering Final Day of Competition; Men Sit Fourth

Alyssa Colbert Breaks NAU Women's 100-meter Record

POCATELLO, Idaho (May 13, 2022) – The Northern Arizona track and field program had a strong first day of team competition at the Big Sky Outdoor Championships; the women finished the day with 55 total points, one event champion, and an additional three podium performances, while the men concluded the evening with one gold medal, two additional podium placements, and a total team score of 38 points.

Women - 55 points

After a consistent field series, Matilde Roe successfully defended her discus title, ultimately throwing a mark of 50.27 meters to contribute ten points to the women's team. Meanwhile, Jennifer Slater started the day for the Lumberjacks with a personal best hammer throw mark of 55.40 meters to place fifth and add four points to the team total.

NAU then picked up a whopping 19 points in the women's 10,000-meter race, as Delaney Rasmussen (35:34.98) earned silver, leading Alexis Kebbe (36:26.86) and Meagan Van Pelt (36:36.57) to bronze and fourth place finishes.

Jenna McCaffrey (10:26.37) and Nikita Moore (10:34.98) teamed up on the track as well, respectively grabbing second and fifth place in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Meanwhile, Kenashalee Kerr picked up five points for the women, after long jumping 5.88 meters.

Tomorrow should be a very entertaining day on the track, as 13 women advanced into their respective event finals.

Alyssa Colbert impressed once again, breaking the NAU women's 100-meter record with a time of 11.50 in her preliminary race; Colbert (23.85) also qualified for the women's 200-meter dash, along with Madeline Wilson (24.25), Miracle Onyemaobi (24.28), and LiNay Perry (24.62).

Perry (54.96), Onyemaobi (55.09), Kyairra Reigh (55.74), and Hannah Schmidt (57.03) went four-for-four in the women's 400-meter dash prelims as well, while Wilson (14.28) snuck into the 100-meter hurdle final.

Fans should also expect to see multiple blue and gold jerseys in the women's 800-meter final, as Melanie Loff (2:11.57), Bryn Morley (2:12.64), and Maggi Congdon (2:14.51) advanced to tomorrow's race.

*The women's 1500-meter prelims were canceled and the event was rescheduled as a final

Women's Team Standings:

Northern Arizona – 55
Montana State – 39.5
Idaho State – 32.5
Sacramento State – 31.5
Southern Utah – 27
Weber State – 25
Montana – 23
Idaho – 21.5
Eastern Washington – 18

Men - 38 Points

Jake Arnold brought his best to the ring today, delivering a gold medal worthy, personal record, shot put throw of 18.79 meters; his mark now ranks amongst the Big Sky All-Time Top-10. Parker Bays (16.93m) picked up an extra point for the 'Jacks as well with an eighth place finish.

Similarly to the women, the NAU men collected the most points in the 10K, scoring 16 points in the event, after Drew Bosley (30:03.46) earned silver, and Ryan Raff (30:03.77) and Jack Shea (30:41.19) respectively placed fourth and sixth.

In the field, Mitchell Effing long jumped 7.57 meters on his last attempt to grab second place for the men, while Trevor Hook threw 61.45 meters in the javelin to finish sixth overall.

Tomorrow's finals may also appear a little daunting to competitors, as the Lumberjacks advanced five men into 1500-meter finals today (Theo Quax 3:51.77, Abdihamid Nur 3:52.39, Caleb Easton 3:52.47, Nico Young 3:52.50, Brodey Hasty 3:52.77); Quax will compete in the men's 800-meter final as well.

By no surprise, David Dunlap (10.29/20.98) secured his ticket to the 100-meter and 200-meter finals, along with Zachary Sutton (10.60/21.51). Meanwhile, Kyle Smith (10.62) found his way into the 100-meter final, and Erick Thompson Jr. slid into the 200-meter final.

All of the men's hurdlers also cleared prelims, as Trenton Givens (14.14), Wil Peralta (14.38), and Alex Alton (53.58) respectively advance to 110-meter and 400-meter hurdle finals.

Men's Team Standings: