Track and Field Preps for ASU Invite; Men’s Team Tops Preseason Poll
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – After competing in the Baldy Castillo Invitational last weekend, the Northern Arizona track and field team heads back to Tempe, Ariz., to take part in the ASU Invitational Friday and Saturday at Sun Angel Stadium. Friday's hammer throw is at 1:00 p.m. PDT, with the rest of the meet taking place Saturday beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Senior David McNeill makes his outdoor season debut this weekend at the Stanford Invitational as he looks for a 5,000-meter qualifying-time for the Commonwealth Games held in his native country of Australia, as well as a top time in the West Region. The eight-time All-American is slated to hit the track at 8:47 Friday evening.
"This could be a big weekend for us," Interim Director of Track and Field & Cross Country Eric Heins said. "Last week we did a lot of hard training, so they weren't that fresh, but this weekend they are rested and I think we should see some pretty good marks from the meet. A lot of our distance runners who we held out last weekend will also be making their debuts."
Many Lumberjacks will be making their first appearance of the outdoor season this weekend, including senior thrower Javier Villarreal. The Eloy, Ariz., native will compete in Friday's hammer throw, as well as the shot put on Saturday. This will be the first competition Villarreal has been in since finishing 12th overall at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Over 16 Division I schools will be represented at the ASU Invite, including Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and in-state rival Arizona.
NAU received good news from Big Sky Conference Thursday when it learned that the men's team was predicted to finish atop the conference this outdoor season in the preseason coaches poll. The Lumberjacks earned six first-place votes, and 76 total points. NAU enters the 2010 season searching for its fourth-straight men's outdoor title.
The women's squad was picked to finish second behind Sacramento State (79). The team picked up one first-place vote for a total of 70 points. At the conference championships in Ogden, Utah, the Lumberjacks will be looking for their first women's title since 2006.
Men’s Poll
Team-Points
Northern Arizona (6)-76
Sacramento State (2)-71
Weber State (1)- 57
Montana State-53
Eastern Washington-48
Idaho State-40
Montana-30
Northern Colorado-15
Portland State-12
Women’s Poll
Team-Points
Sacramento State (7)-79
Northern Arizona (1)-70
Weber State (1)-66
Montana-50
Montana State-46
Eastern Washington-32
Idaho State-31
Portland State-21
Northern Colorado-10
