FARMINGTON, Utah (Oct. 1, 2024) – After a pair of performances that helped lead both the men's and women's cross country teams to victories at the Dave Murray Invitational over the weekend,
Justin Keyes and
Ava Mitchell have been named the Big Sky Conference's Athletes of the Week, the league announced this morning.
Keyes won the men's 8k to help NAU claim the team title with a perfect 15 points. Mitchell was the top NAU finisher on the women's side in the 6k, placing second overall to help the Lumberjacks secure a first-place finish with 20 points.
Mitchell crossed the line in 20:45.3 in just her second race as a Lumberjack after redshirting last season.
Keyes ran a time of 23:04.6 to earn his first collegiate win, improving from the 24:52.6 he raced at the Dave Murray Invitational in 2023 where he placed 14
th.
It's the first Athlete of the Week awards for both Keyes and Mitchell, and the first for the Lumberjacks this season.
NAU is preparing for the Joe Piane – Notre Dame Invitational in South Bend, Ind., on Oct. 4.
