FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Feb. 14, 2025) – Highlighted by the third-fastest women's distance medley relay time in collegiate history, the Northern Arizona men's and women's track and field teams concluded the first day of the Husky Classic and the Don Kirby Elite Invitational.
The distance runners were representing at the Husky Classic in Seattle, Wash., where six new NAU all-time top ten marks were set including the women's distance medley relay team that ran 10:39.44 to break Northern Arizona's and the Big Sky Conference's record – the third fastest time in NCAA history.
The rest of the squad put up impressive marks in Albuquerque, N.M., led by
LiNay Perry who ran the fifth-fastest time in program history in the 200-meters. In all, the Lumberjacks recorded seven new all-time top ten marks and a school/conference record in Friday's action.
The women's distance medley relay team got the weekend off to a strong start for the Lumberjacks in Seattle.
Agnes McTighe,
Kyairra Reigh,
Alexandra Carlson and
Maggi Congdon clocked the third-fastest time in collegiate history in the DMR, running 10:39.44 to place third in the field.
NAU, BYU (1
st, 10:37.58) and Stanford (2
nd, 10:38.93) all broke the previous collegiate record, with Northern Arizona's time beating the record by four seconds. The quartet crushes the previous Northern Arizona and Big Sky Conference record of 11:13.18 that was set by Katja Rosenplaenter, Monique Young, Elin Wiik and Johanna Nilsson in 2006.
In the women's 3,000-meters, all seven Lumberjacks ran new personal bests. The 'Jacks finished first through third in the event with
Hayley Burns finishing first in 9:01.22, good for fourth all-time in NAU history.
Ava Mitchell finished second and
Nikita Moore placed third. The two also set new all-time top ten marks, with Mitchell running the fifth-fastest time in program history (9:01.60) and Moore running the sixth-fastest (9:02.18).
Ali Upshaw also etched her name into the record books, running the 10
th best time in program history at 9:09.42.
Not to be outdone,
Keira Moore crushed her personal best and ran 9:14.86,
Emma Stutzman ran a personal record of 9:16.50 and
Maisie Grice ran 9:22.76 in her first indoor meet of the year. All seven competitors finished in the top 20.
Anna Fenske raced in her first indoor collegiate 5,000-meter and placed first in her heat with a time of 16:34. Right behind her was
Alexis Kebbe who placed second in the same heat with a personal best of 16:15.68.
The men's distance crew also put on a show in Seattle, with six out of seven competitors in the 3,000-meters setting new personal bests.
Colin Sahlman and
David Mullarkey each put their names in the record book, with Sahlman placing fifth overall in 7:40.41, good for fifth all-time in NAU history. Mullarkey finished eighth overall, clocking 7:41.21 to rank seventh all-time.
Drew Bosley was right behind him in ninth place in 7:41.47, just off his school and conference record of 7:36.42.
Rounding out the top 20 was
Ford Washburn with a personal best of 7:51.24.
Aidan Puffer ran in the invitational section of the men's 5,000-meters where he ran a personal best of 13:48.19.
In the men's 5,000-meters,
Erik Le Roux finished third with a personal best of 13:55.58. Jeret Gillingham (14:02.91, 8
th) and
Randy Espinoza (14:06.96) rounded things out.
In Albuquerque, Perry jumped from eighth to fifth on NAU's top ten list in the 200-meters, clocking a new personal best of 23.83 to finish seventh overall. Four other Lumberjacks in
Shanye Harris (24.53),
Jordann Germain (24.72, PR), and
Sydnie Watkins (24.82, PR) ran under 25 seconds, while
Alaynah Reed finished in 25.01 for a new personal best as well.
Ariel Haygood and
Taylor Jacobs each ran personal bests to lead the 'Jacks in the women's 400-meters. Haygood crossed the finish line in 56.57 and Jacobs ran 56.68.
Six Lumberjacks earned personal bests in the men's unseeded 200-meters. The 'Jacks were led by
Joshua Anderson who finished 15
th with a personal best of 21.72.
Lamar Smith followed right behind him in 21.74 to place 17
th.
Liam Gair was NAU's top finisher in the men's 400-meters, placing 11
th with a time of 48.48.
Tyson Givens followed in 13
th, running 48.53 for a new personal best.
In his first ever collegiate indoor 200-meters,
Luke Yruretagoyena ran 21.94.
Alexa Hamilton finished 28
th in the high jump with a mark of 1.57-meters and 38
th in the long jump with a leap of 5.50-meters.
In the women's weight throw,
Ronan Gallagher placed ninth with a toss of 17.46-meters.
Carter Anderson cleared 1.98-meters in the high jump for a new personal best, placing 15
th.
Ian Lipsey was NAU's top-finisher in the long jump, placing 19
th after leap of 6.88-meters.
In the men's weight throw,
Desmond Lott finished second with a toss of 21.88-meters and
Garret Bernt placed third with a mark of 21.75-meters.
Both meets continue with the second and final day of competition on Saturday, Feb. 15.
