FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Jan. 9, 2025) – After months of preparation, the bulk of the Northern Arizona indoor men's and women's track and field teams will kick off the indoor campaign at home with the Friday Night Axe 'Em Open.
The meet is set for Friday, Jan. 10 inside the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff, Ariz. Field events get the meet started at 1 p.m. Mountain Standard time followed by the track events at 3 p.m. MST. A full schedule can be found
HERE and live stats are available
HERE.
The Lumberjacks will be hosting several in-state foes including Arizona, Arizona State and Grand Canyon, along with CSU Bakersfield. NAU also plays host to a handful of professional track clubs who will be racing unattached, and several non-Division I programs.
It's the first of four regular season home meets for the 'Jacks that will culminate with the 2025 Big Sky Conference Indoor Championships that NAU will host in Flagstaff from Feb. 27 to March 1.
The indoor season started off on a high note back in December when a quartet of distance runners traveled to the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston, Mass. There,
Ali Upshaw broke the school and conference record in the 5,000-meters, clocking a time of 15:27.86 for a new personal best by nearly 10 seconds. She won her heat and her time is the 10
th fastest in the nation so far this season.
Garrett Bernt, who placed fourth at the NCAA Indoor National Championships in 2024 in the weight throw, will be making his season debut in the event along with
Desmond Lott. The duo finished first and second, respectively, at the 2024 Big Sky Indoor Championships. Lott also finished third in the shot put and will competing in that event as well.
Ian Lipsey scored in the long jump at last year's Big Sky Championships and will be entered in the event on Friday.
Sirr Butler, who earned a point in the triple jump, will be making his debut as well to round out the men's field events.
On the track, the men's mile will be stacked as
Drew Bosley,
David Mullarkey,
Kang Nyoak, Santiago Prosser,
Ford Washburn,
Erik Le Roux,
Zack Munson and
Randy Espinoza are all set to compete.
Colin Sahlman will be trying his hand at both the 400 and the 600-meters.
In the 200-meter,
Kyle Smith will make his season debut after finishing sixth in the event at last year's championships.
Defending Big Sky Champion in the women's 200-meter,
Kyairra Reigh, will be making her debut in the event along with
LiNay Perry who finished eighth in the event at the indoor championships as well. The duo will also be competing in the 60-meters.
Northern Arizona will also be well represented in the women's mile with
Abi Bass, Upshaw,
Elise Stearns,
Ava Mitchell,
Alexis Kebbe,
Emma Stutzman,
Hayley Burns and
Anna Fenske all set to compete. Upshaw finished fourth in the event at the indoor championships.
Maggi Congdon, an NCAA Championship participant last season, will race in the 400 and 600-meters.
In the jumps,
Alexa Hamilton will be the lone 'Jack in the long jump.
Moving over to the throws,
Sariyah Horne-Kemp will be competing in the shot put and the weight throw. At the indoor championships as a sophomore, she placed third in the weight throw.
Northern Arizona has a quick turnaround, as it will be back to host the Lumberjack Team Challenge on Friday, Jan. 17.
