FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (January 22, 2024) – The NAU track & field teams each earned their highest USTFCCCA Week 1 National Rankings in program history, with the men being ranked third and the women being ranked 12
th.
The Lumberjack men are led by
Nico Young, who is currently ranked first in the nation in the mile and 3,000-meter. Young is coming off a historic performance in which he ran the first sub-4 minute mile at 7,000 feet in collegiate history. His time of 3:57.33 converts to 3:48.71 when adjusted for altitude, easily putting him at the top of the nation.
NAU also has the third and fourth fastest men's miles in the nation, with
Colin Sahlman and
Theo Quax running converted times of 3:54.38 and 3:54.49 respectively.
After making the indoor national meet last season in the long jump,
Mitchell Effing is ranked fifth in the nation in the triple jump. His mark of 16.02 meters broke a school record and earned him a new personal best in the event.
Also breaking a school record so far this season was
Garret Bernt. His mark of 21.51 meters in the weight throw set a new NAU and Big Sky record, and puts him at 12
th in the nation in the event.
Leading the women is
Maggi Congdon, who's mile time of 4:40.34 converts to 4:30.16 when adjusted for altitude and is the fastest in the nation this season. Newcomer
Alyson Churchill has the seventh fastest mile time this season, running a converted time of 4:34.51.
Madeline Wilson broke the school and conference record in the 200-meter, running a time of 23.29 which converts to 23.43 when adjusted for altitude. Her time puts her at seventh in the nation in the event.
The 'Jacks have three of the top-10 times so far this season in the 5,000-meter, with
Annika Reiss ranked seventh after running a time of 15:37.94 at the Boston University Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener.
Elise Stearns and
Gracelyn Larkin are ranked ninth and 10
th, respectively, after running times of 15:38.11 and 15:38.18 at the BU Season Opener.
The Lumberjacks are on the road this week as they travel to Boston, Mass. for the John Thomas Terrier Classic and Albuquerque, N.M for the New Mexico Team Open. The meets will both take place Jan. 26-27. Stay up to date with NAU Cross Country and Track & Field by following us on Twitter and Instagram.
