NAU women’s track and field won the Big Sky outdoor championship title on Saturday, capturing its third-straight title for the Lumberjacks, who also won the Big Sky indoor championship and cross country championship during the 2005-06 school year.
The win marks the first time in NAU history the women’s track and field won the “triple crown” by capturing all three titles in a season. It was also the third year in a row the women’s squad won the outdoor championship.
“With the past success this program has had it really defines the significance of this honor,” said head coach J.W. Hardy.
Winning individual titles for the NAU women were Monique Young and Nicole Gueldemeister, who also captured Athlete of the Meet honors. Young won the triple jump and 200-meters and also had winning efforts in the 100-meter dash taking the runner-up honor. The junior All-American also contributed both the 4×100-meter relay and 4×400-meter to top conference performances. Young’s busy meet also included a fourth-place finish in the long jump.
“I knew that the 100-meters and the long jump were going to be tough events for me to win,” Young said. “I am really happy with the way the meet went for the team.”
Gueldemeister, after a runner-up finish to national champion teammate Johanna Nilsson at the Big Sky Conference Cross Country Championships in the fall, captured both the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter conference titles.
“We put together a solid team performance,” Gueldemeister said. “I was glad that I could help contribute to the team title.”
The winning did not stop there for the Lumberjacks as they tallied up 11 individual conference titles. All-American Britney Rogers continued her success in the high jump, winning her second title this year in the event. Rogers soared to a height of 6-00.50 before falling short on attempts at the conference record.
The middle-distance events were owned by the Lumberjacks by capturing both the 800-meter and 1,500-meter titles on both the men’s and women’s side. The women were led by freshman Elin Wiik in the 800-meter (2:09.16) and Katja Rosenplaneter in the 1,500-meter (4:30.69). Lopez Lomongtook both titles on the men’s side. Lomong set a new school record in the 800-meter (1:48.86).
Senior Dana Posey extended her season by winning the women’s shot put title with a throw of 49-01.00.
The Lumberjacks will be back in action at the NCAA West Regional Championships on May 26-27 in Provo, Utah. The Lumberjacks have combined for 13 qualifications for the meet.