Durocher Honored by Big Sky Conference

OGDEN, Utah – The Northern Arizona track and field team collected a Big Sky Athlete of the Week award for the fourth-straight time Tuesday afternoon. This week it was senior thrower Curtis Durocher who took home the Big Sky Field Athlete of the Week award. This is the senior’s first award of the 2010 season after he earned an unprecedented five field athlete of the week awards during the 2009 indoor campaign.

Head throws and multis coach Mohamad Saatara is pleased at the progress Durocher has made thus far this season.

“We are building towards a successful season, and this mark by Curtis is the first sign that the training is starting to accumulate,” Saatara said.

When asked about Durocher’s chance at collecting an automatic mark, Saatara replied “That is the goal. That is what we are striving for. I cannot predict what will happen in competitions, but I feel confident and strong about that.”

Durocher was honored by the conference for collecting an NCAA provisional mark in the weight throw at this past Saturday’s Mountain T’s Invitational held at the Walkup Skydome on the campus of NAU.

The native Canadian finished second in the men’s weight throw with a mark of 19.79m (64-11.25). Durocher finished behind 2009 weight throw national champion Jason Lewis of Arizona State. The season-high mark puts Durocher at the top of the conference performance list by over five feet. He is also currently ranked 17th on the NCAA provisional list.

Durocher and the rest of the Lumberjacks will be back in action this Saturday as they host the NAU Team Challenge beginning at 8:00 a.m. MST inside the Walkup Skydome. Admission is free to the public.

2009 Indoor Track & Field Big Sky Athletes of the Week

Amber Anderson, Women’s Field (1/05)
Curtis Durocher, Men’s Field (2/02)
Matt Holtfrerich, Men’s Track (1/05)
Javier Villarreal Men’s Field (1/05, 1/19)
Charles White Men’s Field (1/26)