Women’s Track and Field Team Concludes Big Day
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – It was all
about the Northern Arizona women’s track and field team
Saturday at the Walkup Skydome. The Lumberjacks hosted the NAU Team
Challenge and picked up three more Big Sky qualifiers and one NCAA
provisional qualifier from the women’s squad. NAU now has 16
female and 21 male Big Sky qualifiers.
The women’s team finished the meet second overall to Arizona
State, but even though they didn’t get the overall win,
Interim Director of Track and Field & Cross Country Eric Heins
is pleased with high marks that were recorded.
“The women’s team did great today,” Heins said.
“The women’s side is getting a lot more competitive
with 16 qualifiers and only 22 spots to fill. It makes it
competitive amongst the team, but it also makes them a lot
better.”
The Lumberjacks received their fifth NCAA provisional qualifying
mark Saturday from junior Amber Anderson in the triple jump. The
TCU-transfer’s final mark of 12.71m (41-08.5) puts her in a
tie for the 13th-best jump in the country.
“Amber Anderson’s jump at the end of the triple jump
that ties her for 13th in the country was great to see for
her,” Heins said. “It was also great to see 50 people
at the end cheering for her. That really is starting to bring the
team together.”
The three Big Sky qualifying marks from the Team Challenge came
from junior pole-vaulter Jami Michaud, sophomore hurdler Ciara
Williams and freshman sprinter Morgan Pope.
Michaud began the day clearing nearly 12 feet in the pole vault
(3.65m). The NAU indoor and outdoor school record holder finished
second overall in the event.
In the 60-meter hurdles, Williams finished the preliminary round
with a time of 9.13 to give the Lumberjacks their first qualifier
in the event this season. Pope collected her season-best and
championship qualifying mark in the 200-meter dash (25.61),
finishing sixth overall in the event.
NAU had a total of 22 athletes improve upon season-best marks in
the meet from both the men’s and women’s teams.
Junior Shekila Wilkinson is currently in first place in the Big
Sky with her time of 24.72 in the 200-meter dash, and after a mark
of 18.41m (60-05) in the weight throw, junior Nicole Elliot moved
into second place in the conference standings. Freshman Matt
Holtfrerich now ranks third in the 200-meter dash in the Big Sky
after running a 21.89.
The team returns to action when they host the NAU Invitational
which will take place in the Walkup Skydome next Saturday.
