FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Dec. 9, 2025) - Northern Arizona Track & Field swept the Big Sky's first Indoor Track Athlete of the Week honors of the 2025–26 season, as Colin Sahlman and Hayley Burns were recognized for standout performances at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston.
Sahlman opened his indoor campaign with one of the nation's strongest early-season marks, winning the men's invitational 3000 meters in 7:36.71 on Boston University's renowned oval. The sophomore controlled the race from the middle stages onward, closing with authority to secure one of the top collegiate performances ever run on the track.
His mark currently stands as:
- NCAA No. 1 in the men's 3000m this season
- No. 2 all-time at NAU, trailing only Nico Young's collegiate record
- No. 2 all-time in Big Sky Conference history
Sahlman's effort further solidifies him as one of the NCAA's premier returners and positions him at the forefront of the national leaderboard heading into the heart of the indoor season.
Burns delivered a breakthrough race in the women's 5000 meters, finishing 2nd in Heat 1 with a massive personal best of 15:29.84. The performance marks nearly a 20-second improvement from her previous best and moves her to:
- No. 3 all-time at NAU
- One of the fastest early-season 5Ks in program history
- A top-20 mark nationally in the early NCAA indoor rankings
Burns' run anchored a historic day for NAU's women's distance group, which produced multiple all-time performances and signaled the team's rising depth heading into 2026. Burns reflected on her race, saying, "The race at BU was such a great experience, and I had a lot of fun out there. I was super excited to compete on that track and be in the moment. I'm excited to build on this and for what's ahead."
The honors mark the first weekly awards of the indoor season, continuing a trend of early-season excellence for the Lumberjacks at Boston University. With both Sahlman and Burns establishing themselves firmly on the national scene, NAU looks to carry strong momentum into its January home meets inside the Skydome.
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