FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Jan. 27, 2026) -Â Northern Arizona will split its squad this weekend, hosting the Ron Mann Classic at home while a select group travels east to compete at the Brant Tolsma Elite Invitational.
Northern Arizona hosts the Ron Mann Classic, named in honor of longtime head coach Ron Mann, who led the Lumberjack track & field and cross country programs for 24 seasons (1980–2004). Mann guided NAU to 58 Big Sky Conference team championships, coached more than 100 All-Americans, and was inducted into the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame in 2018. The Ron Mann Classic is contested at the Walkup Skydome, one of the premier high-altitude indoor facilities in the country.
Last year's Ron Mann Classic, held Jan. 31, 2025, featured several standout performances for Northern Arizona. The Lumberjacks claimed the men's 4x400-meter relay title with a winning time of 3:10.97, while Aidan Puffer finished second in the men's 3,000 meters. In the field events, Sariyah Horne-Kemp led a dominant 1-2-3 sweep for NAU in the women's weight throw, and Alexa Hamilton captured the women's long jump with a personal-best mark of 5.63 meters.
Live results and meet schedule for the Ron Mann Classic will be available at wingfootfinish.com.
Northern Arizona will send a select group of athletes to compete at the Brant Tolsma Elite Invitational. Due to weather concerns, the Brant Tolsma Elite Invitational has been adjusted to a Thursday–Friday format. Combined events will be contested Thursday, with all remaining field and running events held Friday. The meet features a small, high-level field, with entries limited to Duke, High Point, Liberty, North Carolina, North Carolina A&T, NC State, Northern Arizona, Virginia and Wake Forest.
Broadcast coverage of the Brant Tolsma Elite Invitational will be available via FloTrack on Friday only, with the stream beginning at 10:45 p.m. MST. Live results and schedule throughout the meet will be provided by Blue Ridge Timing.
