BOZEMAN, Mont. (November. 1, 2025) - Northern Arizona cross country once again proved its dominance in the Big Sky Conference, sweeping both the men's and women's team titles on Saturday morning at Bridger Creek Golf Course. The Lumberjacks combined for an exceptional performance across both races, with the women scoring just 16 points and the men securing a 20-point victory to complete the program's first championship sweep under Director of Cross Country Jarred Cornfield.
The women's squad delivered one of the most complete team showings in recent conference history. Sophomore Hayley Burns, competing in her hometown of Bozeman, captured the Big Sky individual title in a time of 16:05.7, leading a powerful front pack that included Ava Mitchell (2nd, 16:14.3), Keira Moore (3rd, 16:22.1), Kiki Vaughn (4th, 16:28.9), and Payton Godsey (6th, 16:42.3). With five runners in the top six and all seven scorers inside the top 20, NAU finished averaging 16:22 per runner with just a 36-second spread. Vaughn's fourth-place finish also earned her Big Sky Freshman of the Year honors.
The NAU men matched the women's energy with an equally dominant performance, led by Colin Sahlman, who claimed the Big Sky individual championship with a time of 23:41.3. The Lumberjacks packed tightly through the front, with Manny Perez (3rd, 23:58.4), Erik Le Roux (4th, 23:59.5), Cael Grotenhuis (5th, 24:01.4), and Ethan Godsey (7th, 24:15.0) rounding out the top five scorers. NAU averaged 23:59 per runner with a 33-second spread.Â
"The Big Sky Championships are an integral focus of our program here at NAU," Cornfield said. "We care deeply about the execution and composure it takes to perform in these environments, and both groups came in fully prepared. I'm really proud of how they executed. To come away with both titles feels incredibly rewarding, that's always a major priority for us, and it's special to see the team rise to the moment."
Cornfield credited both Colin Sahlman and Hayley Burns for setting the tone at the front of their respective races, capturing individual conference titles to lead the Lumberjacks to their team victories. "Both Colin and Hayley have been incredibly consistent and professional this season," he said. "Colin had a slightly delayed start after a long track campaign, but the way he's leading now, with composure, confidence, and a team-first focus, is exactly what we need from him. Hayley has taken huge steps forward from a year ago, carrying momentum from a great track season into cross country. To see her believe in herself and assert at this level is really exciting, and for her to do it in her hometown of Bozeman made it even more meaningful."
Freshman Kiki Vaughn, who earned Big Sky Freshman of the Year honors after finishing fourth overall, also drew praise from her coach for her growth and resilience. "Kiki's development over the past year has been tremendous," Cornfield said. "A couple of years ago, she wasn't a state champion and hadn't raced at the national level in high school, but she's shown incredible toughness and self-belief. She's operating at a completely new level and has already made a huge impact on our women's team. I truly believe she'll be one of the all-time greats at NAU by the time her career is over."
Reflecting on his own journey and first Big Sky Championships as director, Cornfield emphasized the continuity of culture within the program. "This is my 11th year at NAU, but my first as Director of Cross Country," he said. "I was really fortunate to learn under Mike Smith for the past decade and to help build the process we continue to use today. So while it's my first year in this role, it doesn't feel any different, our teams do what NAU always does: prepare the right way and execute when it matters. These wins aren't about me; they're about the team and the culture that's been built here."
Saturday's sweep adds to Northern Arizona's remarkable cross country legacy. The men's program entered Bozeman as the four-time defending Big Sky champion (2021–24) and now extends that run to five straight titles, bringing its all-time total to 34 team championships and 34 individual champions since the program's first title in 1963. On the women's side, NAU has now claimed seven consecutive Big Sky crowns, continuing a streak that began in 2019 and was punctuated by last year's perfect 15-point performance in Pocatello.
The results add another chapter to Northern Arizona's storied legacy in distance running, marking the program's continued standard of excellence on both the men's and women's sides. The Lumberjacks will now shift their focus to the NCAA Mountain Regional Championships on November 14 in Salt Lake City, Utah, as they look to extend their postseason success.
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