Two Records Fall as Lumberjacks Conclude Regular Season
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – It was a
record-breaking evening at the Walkup Skydome as the Northern
Arizona track and field team concluded its home slate for the 2010
indoor regular season.
Senior David McNeill broke a school indoor record for the
second-consecutive week when he crossed the stripe in a time of
13:39.32 (converted for altitude) in the 5,000m. The Australian
native crushed the previous school record of 13:52.33 held by
Henrik Ahnstrom during the 2005 season.
“This was just one of those freak things where you get out
of bed and do something,” McNeill said. “I called coach
and he was hospitable and put it one for me. I came away with the
goods by getting a qualifier for the NCAA Indoor National
Championships.”
McNeill now holds the nation’s two best times in the 3,000
and 5,000-meter events.
Junior pole vaulter Jami Michaud cleared 12-7.5 to join McNeill as
the second Lumberjack to rewrite the indoor record books Friday
evening. The former JUCO national champion shattered her previous
school record of 12 feet.
“It just feels good to jump high,” an excited Michaud
said. “It is another accomplishment for me, and it is always
nice to reach a goal.”
As for how she is preparing for the Big Sky Championships next
week, Michaud feels she is just coming into her own this
season.
“I feel like coach Doyle is very in tune with my needs. I
feel really fresh and I am ready and excited.”
Interim Director of Track and Field & Cross Country Eric Heins
feels that the broken records tonight give his teams more momentum
heading into next week’s championships.
“This meet gave us a lot of momentum going into the Big Sky
Championships,” Heins said. “Anytime you have any
school records broken at a meet, then it is usually a pretty good
day. For David to go out and run the best time in the country, and
a personal best for him, gives the team a lot of excitement. For
Jami Michaud to crush one of her school record also gives the rest
of the women’s team a lot of momentum and excitement going
into next weekend.”
Josh Heck became the final Lumberjack to qualify for the
championships when he collected a personal-best mark of 22.01 in
the 200-meter dash, and now Heins is faced with the challenge of
filling out his championship roster.
“When you are having to leave kids at home who have a shot
at scoring points for you is definitely a good problem to have. The
athletes have really stepped up and made it hard for us to choose
that final 44.”
NAU also had senior thrower Arshiya Hoseyni (shot put) and
freshman jumper Edgar Panford (triple jump) climb to the top of the
Big Sky rankings in their respective events. Hoseyni’s mark
of 14.81m (48-07.25)
bumps her up from fourth to first. Panford’s leap vaulted
him six places in the rankings, passing teammates Charles White and
Thremaine Johnson.
For the second-consecutive week freshman Lauren Stuart upped her
weight throw mark. She won the even by registering a throw of
17.30m (56-09.25). The British Columbia native is now seventh in
the Big Sky rankings, and the only freshman ranked in the top
10.
NAU also played host to five former Olympians, with Kelsie Hendry
breaking the Canadian indoor pole vaulting record for the
second-straight week (4.55m/14-11).
The Lumberjacks have a week to prepare for the Big Sky
Championships that begin next Friday in Bozeman, Mont.
