FLAGSTAFF, Arizona. - Northern Arizona cross country heads to the Big Sky Championships on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, with titles on the line at Bridger Creek Golf Course in Bozeman. The women's 5K goes off at 11:00 a.m. MT, the men's 8K follows at 11:35 a.m. MT, and the awards ceremony is slated for 12:20 p.m.
The championship field features Eastern Washington, Idaho, Idaho State, Montana, host Montana State, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Sacramento State, and Weber State. A notable format change arrives this fall: by conference vote, both the men's and women's races will start 10 athletes per team, putting a premium on depth, displacement, and pack discipline throughout the championship fields. For NAU, that change plays directly to a long-standing strength of deep disciplined packs. The Lumberjacks enter the weekend with momentum, led by Colin Sahlman, who was recently named Big Sky Athlete of the Week following his standout performance.
On the men's side, Northern Arizona is the four-time defending champion (2021–24) and leads the conference historically with 33 team titles and 33 individual champions since 1963. The Lumberjacks' most recent Big Sky run in 2024 (Pocatello) produced a 25-point team win and an individual crown for David Mullarkey (23:06.6), with Sahlman finishing runner-up in 23:14.2. Prior to that, NAU controlled championships in Missoula (2023) and Cheney (2022), and took the 2021 title in Portland, underscoring a four-year run built on front-running star power backed by a deep middle order.
The women arrive riding a five-title streak from 2020 through 2024, punctuated by a runaway perfect 15 last season in Pocatello. That day belonged to Ali Upshaw (16:10.4) up front, extending a recent lineage of NAU individual champions that includes Elise Stearns (2023, 2022) and Taryn O'Neill (2021, 2020). The through-line has been the same: tight scoring spreads, experienced leaders, and enough late-race bite to close out decisive team performances.
Beyond the lines on a course map, Bridger Creek's rolling fairways tend to reward patient, organized packs that can surge through the middle miles and handle a longer drive to the finish. With the men's 10-up start rule in effect, displacement scoring could loom large, making every position change in the final kilometer matter for the podium. For NAU, both squads have shown the blend of front running and depth required to meet that moment.
Fans can watch live on ESPN+ and see live results via Competitive Timing throughout the morning. For real-time updates, photos, and post-race coverage, follow @NAUTrackFieldXC on Instagram.
Northern Arizona will host the Big Sky Cross Country Championships next year in Flagstaff, with additional details to come following the 2025 season.
Stay up to date with Northern Arizona cross country by following the Lumberjacks on
X and
Instagram.
