Tokyo, Japan. (September 22, 2025)- The 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo showcased the very best of global track and field, and once again, Northern Arizona University alumni made their mark on the world stage. Three former Lumberjacks: George Beamish, Nico Young, and Maggi Congdon carried NAU's blue and gold legacy into the spotlight.
The defining moment for NAU came in the men's 3000m steeplechase final, where George Beamish stunned the field to capture his second World Championship gold medal. Beamish ran a tactical masterclass, staying patient through the early laps before unleashing a fierce closing sprint crossing the line in 8:33.88. For Beamish, the victory was not only personal but historic; Beamish secured New Zealand's first-ever gold in the steeplechase.
Rising American star Nico Young proved he belongs among the world's best with strong finishes in both the 10,000m and 5000m. In the 10,000m, Young placed 5th in 28:56.62, battling humid conditions and a slow early pace. In the 5000m, he came back with another gritty performance, clocking 13:00.07 for 6th place. At just 22 years old, Young's back-to-back top-six finishes signaled that his transition from NCAA record-breaker to global contender is nearly complete.
Middle-distance standout Maggi Congdon carried her momentum from a breakout NCAA season into Tokyo. Competing in the 800m, she advanced from the heats with a composed 2:01.74, before producing a 1:59.95 in the semifinals placing 7th in her heat. Though it wasn't enough to advance to the final, Congdon's performance put her among the world's elite and hinted at what's to come.
For NAU, these performances underscore the program's unique ability to prepare athletes not just for collegiate dominance, but for world-class success. Beamish's gold medal, Young's emergence as a top global distance runner, and Congdon's international debut all add to a growing legacy of Lumberjacks who thrive under the brightest lights.
With the program's pipeline as strong as ever and the 2028 Olympics already on the horizon, NAU athletes are proving that the path from Flagstaff's altitude leads directly to the summit of world athletics.
Stay up to date with Northern Arizona track & field by following the Lumberjacks on X and Instagram.
