Chipangama, Osman Collect Personal-Best Marks

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Junior Jordan Chipangama and sophomore Ahmed Osman of the Northern Arizona track and field recorded new personal-best times in their respective events Friday and Saturday at the Alex Wilson Invitational on the campus of Notre Dame.

Interim Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Eric Heins accompanied the two and junior Ben Ashkettle on the trip to the “last chance meet.”

“This meet was a good chance for Jordan, Ben and Ahmed to raise their marks and compete at a national level,” Heins said. “Both Jordan and Ahmed both did that, and set new personal-records as well. I think it gives them a lot of momentum going into the outdoor season.”

Chipangama, looking for a sub-four minute mark in the mile, came up just short after finishing third in a time of 4:00.69 Saturday afternoon. It was a new personal-best for the Zambia and move him into second place behind Lopez Lomong (4:00.36) on the all-time indoor mile list at NAU. The improved time moves him up to 24th on the Division I indoor performance list.

Osman and Ashkettle (14:18.90) both competed in the men’s 5,000-meter run Friday evening, with Osman breaking the 14-minute mark for the first time in his career (13:59.30). He would go on to finish seventh overall in the race.

The personal-best time for Osman moves him up three places to No. 28 on the 5k-performance list.

Senior thrower Javier Villarreal did not compete this weekend, but is waiting anxiously to see if he will be heading to the indoor championships. With several meets wrapping up this weekend, the Elo y native will receive official word from the NCAA on Monday. He is currently tied for 14th in the nation in the shot put (18.55m/60-10.5).

DID YOU KNOW?…Northern Arizona finished third in the Sterling Savings Bank Presidents Cup recognizing academic and athletics performances in 2008-09. The award is based on team grade point averages, graduation rates and the number of all-conference performers with a grade point average above a 3.0, as well as Men's and Women's All Sports points.