Brooke Andersen Continues Historic Season with the No. 2 Toss in the NCAA and World as Track and Field Competes at the Desert Heat Classic

RESULTS

TUCSON, Ariz. - Brooke Andersen's historical season continued as she recorded the second-best mark in the NCAA and the world in the women's hammer throw as the Northern Arizona University track and field program competed at the University of Arizona's Desert Heat Classic at Drachman Stadium on Saturday.

Andersen rewrote the school and conference record book once again as her mark of 74.20 meters was the best performance in NAU and Big Sky history. It was also the sixth-best showing in United States track and field history.

"Obviously the mark is a massive mark," director of track and field Michael Smith said. "74 meters puts her as one of the best ever in the event, not just in the NCAA but professionally in this country as well. It's a world class mark. You go to the Olympics with a performance like that."

"The most important thing watching Brooke's process is she happens to be in school in the same state at the same time as the best to ever throw it in college in Arizona State's Maggie Ewen," Smith added. "That's a pretty intimidating atmosphere to constantly try to be your best in. If you watch Brooke and Maggie, Brooke's not intimidated anymore. She was able to just go in there and compete today. I think they have a lot of respect for each other and that they pull the best out of each other. It was really special watching Brooke compete and not lose accessing her best. That's as hard as throwing the hammer far is managing those emotions around that. I'm so proud of her."

While the event isn't a typical outdoor race, freshman Luis Grijalva set the facility record with a 4:03.48 performance to win the men's mile as he almost became the first athlete to go sub-four in Drachman Stadium history.

"Typically a really fast mile has pacemakers throughout the race but Luis was doing that by himself with no help," Smith said. "For a freshman to do that is really exceptional. The markers that I watch for with that type of assertiveness says that he's going to get stronger and stronger. The situations will evolve and he'll be in a really good place."

The sprints group also had a solid day, led by Kossi Tchenawou who set or tied new personal best as he won the 100-meter dash (10.40) and finished fourth in the 200-meter dash (21.10).

The men's 4x100-meter relay squad of Khalil Dorsey, Tyren Wolfe, Shawn Williams and Tchenawou also posted the second-fastest time in NAU history and the fifth-best mark of all-time in the conference with a 40.01 performance.

On the women's side, seven of the eight athletes competing in the 100-meter dash set new personal bests and Ashley Taylor tied her personal record with a time of 54.31 to finish fourth in the 400-meter dash.

Carter Bracken also impressed with new personal bests in the 400-meter hurdles (55.87) and 110-meter hurdles (14.58).

"We had some great marks on the sprints side that's really exciting," Smith said. "Just those guys and girls setting personal records right now is special. The consistency on the women's side is what you want to see heading into the conference championships."

"Bracken had a big breakthrough in the hurdles," Smith added. "The men's 4x100 relay was exceptional. That was a beautiful event and we have a few more tenths in there I think so that's exciting as well."

The Desert Heat Classic was the last meet as a complete unit for the Lumberjacks. While a select group of athletes will compete at the University of Stanford's Payton Jordan Invitational on May 3, the rest of the team will return with the Big Sky Outdoor Championships, hosted by the University of Idaho May 8-11.

"I think we're putting the pieces together and we are arriving right on time for some big stuff for the Big Sky Championships," Smith concluded.


NAU COMPETING ATHLETES

Field Events
Women's Hammer
1. Brooke Andersen - 74.20m*@
4. Tiana Hatler-Stefick - 59.59m
10. Alexa Dragone - 42.14m*
DNP. Rachel Pott - Fouled Out

Men's Hammer
6. William Beaudry - 53.26m*
8. Phillip Kalaniopio - 52.78m
9. Justin Saxe - 50.78m

Women's Long Jump
3. Helena McLeod - 6.06m
14. Kaitlyn Wayne - 5.00m

Men's Long Jump
4. Khalil Dorsey - 7.10m
DNP. Steven Hartshorn-West

Men's Discus
5. Parker Joens - 52.80m*
9. William Beaudry - 46.32m

Women's Shot Put
11. Alexa Dragone - 11.67m

Men's Javelin
4. William Beaudry - 51.64m*
5. Matthew Kisiel - 38.87m*

Men's Triple Jump
7. Steven Hartshorn-West - 13.48m

Men's Shot Put
5. Parker Joens - 16.38m

Men's High Jump
2. Matthew Kisiel - 2.03m
5. Obang Odol - 1.98m
6. Trevon Bosley - 1.93m

Running Events
Men's 110 Hurdles
4. Khalil Dorsey - 14.45
5. Carter Bracken - 14.58*

Men's 4x100 Relay
4. Dorsey, Wolfe, Williams, Tchenawou - 40.01

Women's 400
5. Ashley Taylor - 54.31 (ties P/R)
17. Tylnn Carter - 56.51*
19. Clarissa Maxey - 57.26

Men's 400
2. Tyren Wolfe - 46.81*
10. Ivan Giron-Burnham - 50.76*

Women's 100
13. Jasmine Malone - 11.88*
15. Jada Jackson - 11.97*
17. Nicole Fotinos - 11.99*
22. Miracle Onyemaobi - 12.24*
26. Clarissa Maxey - 12.63*
27. Dana Padget - 12.73
28. Alexis Caston - 12.87*
29. Sara Murray - 13.02*

Men's 100
1. Kossi Tchenawou - 10.40 (ties P/R)
9. Shawn Williams - 10.91*
14. Alex Alton - 11.36*

Women's 800
2. Maggie Carruth - 2:09.23

Men's 800
8. Ryan Lanley - 1:51.07

Men's 400 Hurdles
5. Carter Bracken - 55.87*
6. Alex Alton - 56.17*

Women's 200
18. Jada Jackson - 24.49
21. Miracle Onyemaobi - 24.75*
24. Clarissa Maxey - 25.46
27. Tylnn Carter - 25.74
31. Dana Padget - 26.21
32. Alexis Caston - 26.32

Men's 200
4. Kossi Tchenawou - 21.10*
15. Shawn Williams - 21.92*
23. Ivan Giron-Burnham - 23.10

Women's Mile Run
4. Paige Gilchrist - 4:54.98
5. Hannah Behunin - 4:58.16*
6. Pipi Eitel - 4:58.97
9. Shannon Melvin - 5:00.96*
20. Jessa Hanson - 5:14.83
21. Zoe Wall - 5:18.65*

Men's Mile Run
1. Luis Grijalva - 4:03.48 (Facility Record)
2. Peter Lomong - 4:11.45*
6. Cade Burks - 4:17.27
7. James Fitzgerald - 4:17.32*
8. Beau Prince - 4:19.83*
10. Jack Shea - 4:23.45*
12. Kyle Havriliak - 4:26.21
13. Elliot Gindi - 4:38.13*

Women's 4x400
5. Fotinos, Carruth, Onyemaobi, Taylor - 3:43.30

* New P/R
@ New School Record