FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (March 1, 2024) – Mike Smith has been named the Big Sky Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year.
Smith led the NAU track & field teams to a sweep of the conference championships, the fourth consecutive sweep of the team titles. This mark's his seventh consecutive Men's Indoor Coach of the Year Award, and his fourth consecutive Women's Indoor Coach of the Year honor. Last week's conference victory marked the 26
th championship for the men and the 16
th for the women.
The NAU women scored 204 points en route to their victory, the highest point women's point total in conference championships history.
Madeline Wilson was named the Women's Most Valuable Athlete after winning both the 60-meter and 200-meter. Wilson's 200-meter time of 23.35 was a Big Sky Conference Championships meet record.
Kyairra Reigh was named Co-Women's Most Outstanding Performer after taking the event win in the 400-meter. She ran a season best time of 53.00 to dominate in the event.
The men earned their 12
th consecutive conference championship with a score of 190 points, the highest team total since the Lumberjacks won in 2012.
Aaron Las Heras was named Men's Most Outstanding Performer after winning the 5,000-meter and running a meet and facility record time of 13:36.24. He also finished second in the men's mile with a time of 4:03.21.
NAU will send multiple student athletes to next week's NCAA Indoor National Championships in Boston, Mass.
Nico Young,
Aaron Las Heras, and
Theo Quax will each compete in the 3,000-meter and the 5,000-meter.
Colin Sahlman will run the mile, while
Maggi Congdon will compete in both the mile and the 800-meter. The distance squad will also send athletes to compete in the men's distance medley relay.
Mitchell Effing will compete in the triple jump, with
Garret Bernt competing in the weight throw.
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