Photo by Stayson Isobe
NAU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
Photo Credit Stayson Isobe
Lumberjack T&F Sweep Big Sky Titles
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Northern Arizona University’s track & field team completed competition at the Big Sky Outdoor Championships. NAU took home both the men’s and women’s team championships as the men scored 151 points and the women 135 in front of a home crowd. The two titles serve as a full sweep of the conference track & field championships during both the indoor and outdoor seasons.
“On both sides we knew it was going to be a challenge from Montana State on the men’s side and Montana on the women’s side and without a doubt they showed up,” said director of track & field and cross country Eric Heins. “We really pride ourselves on a well-rounded program and to defend the title at home was great; the crowd was loud and this is the first time since 1990 that both the men and women have won an outdoor together so we are really proud of that.”
The men’s distance team did what they typically do; win. The Lumberjack men swept the podium spots in the men’s 5000m run as Caleb Hoover (15:04.1), Brian Shrader (15:09.66) and Matt McElroy (15:09.7) took home the gold, silver and bronze medals, respectively. Rounding out the NAU scorers was Alejandro Montano (15:35.48) and Tim Freriks (15:43.82).
“I did not get the memo that Brian (Shrader) and Matt (McElroy) were not going to kick with me and when I went for it. They weren’t there so it was different feeling,” said Hoover. “Coach Heins told us we needed to get these points so we went out there and got them.”
Shrader (3:55.77) also added a bronze medal to his awards for the day as he finished third in the men’s 1500m run.
Micael Ljunberg succeeded in his attempt to repeat as Big Sky champion in the men’s discus throw. Competing in one of the final events of the day for the Lumberjack men, Ljunberg’s mark of 178-06 (54.42m) put the Montana State men’s hopes of victory to rest. Also scoring in the event for NAU was Gus Margiotta in sixth place thanks to a 159-04 (48.58) effort.
“Feels good to repeat especially after having a high fever throughout this week,” said Ljunberg. “I felt good today and I was able to throw really well. We had windy weather conditions today so it was hard to make the discus float but my throws were good enough to come away with the win.”
Deante Kemper opened up the day for NAU with a Big Sky title in the men’s high jump. Kemper jumped a best of 7-02.5 (2.14m) to add 10 points to the Lumberjacks’ team total.
“Feels good to get my title back because I came in with a lot of vengeance and I was in attack mode,” said Kemper. “I took only two jumps today so it felt good to be consistent and clear seven feet. I have a lot of NAU pride so to win at home in the Big Sky Championships feels good.”
Kemper was not done; he then proceeded to garner a podium spot in the men’s 110m hurdles alongside Vernon Jamison. Jamison took home a gold medal in the event as he flew to a time of 13.93 to beat out Eastern Washington’s Steven Warner. The duo of Jamison and Kemper brought in 16 points for the NAU men.
“When they said the team scores at the time of the race, I wanted to go out and win for my team,” said Kemper. “With Deante (Kemper) winning the high jump and the 400 meter hurdles left, I was just hoping we could climb up the standings and grab the team title.”
The men’s sprints core continued to help out the NAU men. Taylor Schneider shocked the men’s 400m dash field with a silver medalist performance. Schneider ran a time of 47.62 to solidify his second place finish and eight points for the Lumberjacks. Also scoring in the event was DeShon Norris (48.64) who finished seventh.
Both Dai McFadden and Jamison represented NAU in the men’s 400m hurdles. McFadden was impressive in the clutch as his 52.68 was good for a bronze medal in the event. Jamison finished just behind him in fourth after running a 52.77.
The men’s 4x400 relay team of Jamison, Shneider, Michael Lyles and Norris was also instrumental in the men’s title. The quartet put together a time of 3:13.49 on the way to a bronze medal and six points for the team.
Alexander Odem scored in the men’s triple jump, finishing eighth with a mark of 45-01.5 (13.75m).
The NAU women’s distance contributed a much-needed boost to the women’s team score. Led by a gold medalist performance by Melanie Townsend (17:58.01), NAU recieved 20 points from the women’s 5000m run. Behind Townsend was Rolonda Jumbo (18:13.49) in third and Lauren Justus (18:22.18) in fifth rounding out the Lumberjack point scorers.
“After running the 1500 earlier today, my plan was to start out slow in this race so I sat back and waited to make my move,” said Townsend. “I was upset after the 1500, so it feels good to have the gold medal in the 5000 and to get it done for the team today.”
Jessica Weise was not to be left off the list of podium finishers for NAU. Weise threw a best mark of 49-08.25 (15.14m) in the women’s shot put. The sophomore’s performance was good for eight points and a silver medal in the event.
In the women’s javelin throw, Kylene Knutsen finished fourth riding a 150-06 (45.88m) performance. Also competing in the event was Sydney Leliefeld who posted a 129-02 (39.36m) to finish 14th.
Freshman Ashley Taylor proved today that age is really nothing but a number. Taylor ran away with a Big Sky title in the women’s 400m hurdles in the midst of a close race for the team title. The freshman ran a time of 58.65 in the event, a time poised to be toward the top of the NAU record books.
“The race felt really good and I came into the race with a lot of confidence,” said Taylor. “I was really excited to race on my home track. My family was here so I am happy I was able to race well in front of them. I really just wanted to help my team win.”
Darriel Banks was huge in the women’s 100m dash. The junior finished third in the event with Rachel Hinker and Jasmine Woods barely beating out her time of 11.57. Banks’ effort was good for six points for the NAU women.
Shamelle Pless scored in the women’s 200m dash, finishing seventh after clocking in at 24.61.
Alexis Clay (39-03, 11.96m) came back from her podium finish in the long jump with a fifth place finish in the women’s triple jump, adding four points to help the Lumberjack women. Freshman Courtney Brown fell just outside of scoring range as she finished ninth with a best of 37-06.5 (11.44m).
This is the fourth time in Big Sky history that a school has swept indoor and outdoor titles for both men and women. Sacramento State did it in 2011 and Weber State in 2002. This is the first time NAU has done it since 1990.
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Durant Harvin 4th
NAU Athletic Communications G.A.
Track & Field, Cross Country and Golf
Durant4@nau.edu @Durantbphresh
(443) 845-1754