DeKonty Soars Up Big Sky Leaderboard at Double Dual
TUCSON, Ariz. – Looking to lock up a qualifying mark for the Big Sky Outdoor Championships in the triple jump, junior Josh DeKonty more then secured a spot when he leaped 47-0.75 (14.35m) to climb up to second in the conference rankings at the Double Dual hosted by the University of Arizona.
DeKonty also had a stellar day in the long jump, recording a mark of 24-1.25 (7.35m) to move himself into the No. 2 spot in the conference rankings.
Interim Director of Track and Field & Cross Country Eric Heins was pleased with the big marks put up by DeKonty, as well as the solid performances from the rest of the team.
"Today's overall performance gave us a lot of momentum heading into the Big Sky Outdoor Championships," Heins said. "It also showed me that we need to increase our overall depth to compete against Arizona and Arizona State in this meet."
NAU also had five runners improve their national marks at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational on the campus of Stanford, and Heins was excited when he learned how they did Saturday.
"I am also pleased with the performances from out distance runner who traveled to Stanford." Heins said. "I was glad that they went to the meet with a goal in mind and recorded better marks without over exerting themselves as we build for the end of the season."
Sophomore Diego Estrada turned in a career-best mark of 28:40.19 in the men's 10,000-meter, giving him a top-10 national mark in the event. Joining Estrada in the 10K was junior Ben Ashkettle who turned in a top-10 national mark as well (28:52.72).
Seniors Nell Rojas (steeplechase) and Veronica Pohl (5,000-meter run) improved in the region as well Saturday, and sophomore Ahmed Osman recorded a new PR in the men's 5K (13:58.20).
With a leap of 22 feet, 11 inches, junior Thremaine Johnson became the 25th and final Big Sky-qualifier on the men's squad. It was just the second meet of the season for the Phoenix, Ariz., native, who also qualified in the triple jump (14.03m/46-0.25). This will be Johnson's second trip to the outdoor conference championships.
Junior Amanda Duarte also added to the solid day posted by the jumpers as she recorded a new personal record in the triple jump with a leap of 11.87m (38-11.25), over seven feet greater then her previous top mark. The Glendale, Ariz., native also moved up to sixth in the conference rankings.
The Lumberjacks also continued to progress in the throwing events as senior Arshiya Hoseyni (shot put), junior Andres Rossini (discus) and freshman Matt Post (hammer throw) all recorded new PRs Saturday. Rossini's monster throw of 57.57m (188-10.25) moved him up to ninth in the West Region rankings.
With the conclusion of the regular season, the Lumberjacks have two weeks to prepare for the Big Sky Outdoor Championships in Ogden, Utah on May 12-15.
