FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (March 16, 2023) – The Northern Arizona University track & field teams are ready to open their outdoor seasons as they head to the GCU Invitational this weekend.
Familiar faces will make their return to the track as the outdoor season begins. Headlining things for the sprints squad will be
Alyssa Colbert and
Kyairra Reigh in the 200-meter. Both Colbert and Reigh are coming off successful indoor seasons which saw broken records and Big Sky Conference Championship wins.
Kyle Smith will be competing in the men's 200-meter after a breakout performance at the conference championships.
Drew Bosley will compete in the 5000-meter for the men's distance a week after finishing third in the indoor 5K at the NCAA National Championships. Also competing for the men will be freshman
Colin Sahlman, who is coming off his first indoor season which saw him record the second fastest 800-meter time in school history during the prelims at the Big Sky Championships. Sahlman is set to compete in the 1500-meter as well as the 5K.
The women's distance crew will see both new faces and veterans compete.
Anna Fenske will run the 1500-meter and the 5K, with freshman
Keira Moore competing in the 800-meter and the 1500-meter.
Freshman
Sariyah Horne-Kemp will make her outdoor debut after an impressive indoor season which was capped off with an 18.51 meter mark in the weight throw to earn a fourth place finish at the conference championships. The top trio of the weight throw in the Big Sky will be competing for the men, with
John Murphy in the hammer throw,
Parker Bays in the hammer throw and shot put, and newcomer Desmond lot in the hammer throw, shot put, and discus.
The Lumberjacks will also compete in javelin for the first time this year, with
Trevor Hook,
Clayton Zupke, and
Porter Sweet entered for the men. For the women
Jade Kwinn,
Piper Pfister,
Olivia Conklin, and
Gabbie Hasskamp will all be competing.
The jumps lineup will look very similar in the outdoor season, with freshman
Brenna Rodriguez looking to make as big of an impact as she had during the indoor season. Rodriguez finished fifth at the conference championships in the long jump, hitting a mark of 5.55 meters and contributing to the women's historic win. Veteran
Jack Normand will compete in the high jump, hoping to build on his solid indoor season.
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