FULL RELEASE (PDF)
OGDEN, Utah (April 24, 2018) - Northern Arizona had three athletes earn #BigSkyTF Athlete of the Week honors, while Montana State also had an athlete represented among this week’s honorees.
NAU’s Ashley Taylor was named the Big Sky Women’s Track Athlete of the Week and her teammate Brooke Andersen earned the Big Sky Women’s Field Athlete of the Week honor.
On the men’s side, Northern Arizona’s Matt Baxter snagged the Big Sky Men’s Track Athlete of the Week award, while Montana State’s Kyle Douglass was tabbed the Big Sky Men’s Field Athlete of the Week.
Taylor, a senior from Ontario, Canada, ran the second-fastest time in NAU history in the women’s 800m and helped the women’s 4x400m relay team record the fourth-fastest time in Big Sky Conference history as Northern Arizona track and field concluded its time at Azusa Pacific University’s Bryan Clay Invitational on Friday. Taylor’s 800m mark of 2:04.36 slots 10th overall in the country. In the first outdoor running of the 800m race in her career, Taylor posted the second-best time ever recorded in the Big Sky.
Andersen, a senior from Vista, Calif., recorded the fifth-best mark in NCAA history as she won the women’s invitational hammer throw at the Mt. Sac Relays on Thursday. Andersen’s performance of 72.15m (236-8) set a new record for not only NAU and the Big Sky Conference; it was also the seventh-best toss in the world in 2018. The senior is slotted at No. 2 overall in the nation in the event.
Baxter, a senior from New Plymouth, New Zealand, ran the fastest time in Division I in the men’s 5000-meter race at the Azusa Pacific-hosted Bryan Clay Invitational on Thursday as he recorded a time of 13:31.00. That mark ranks third in Northern Arizona and Big Sky history.
Douglass, a senior from Missoula, Mont., continued his reign atop the Big Sky Conference during MSU’s trip to California last weekend. Douglass completed a performance that moved him up to the first spot among Big Sky competitors at the Beach Invitational. The senior completed an outdoor lifetime best in the shot put with a toss of 60-01.25 (18.32m). He took fifth overall in the event and his shot put distance moved him to second all-time in program history.
Other Women’s Track Nominees: Kari Hamilton - Eastern Washington; Kara Story - Idaho; Shayla Henderson - Idaho State; Carly Smiedala - Montana; Kelsi Lasota - Montana State; Cammy Sargent - Northern Colorado; Sarah Medved - Portland State; Carly Schulz - Sacramento State; Angie Nickerson - Southern Utah; Kate Sorensen - Weber State
Other Women’s Field Nominees: Erin Clark - Eastern Washington; Hannah Ringel - Idaho; Luisa Stroppel - Idaho State; Zena Smith - Montana; Molli Detloff - North Dakota; Brittany Patterson - Sacramento State; Amy Pouliot - Southern Utah; Abbi Brecht - Weber State
Other Men’s Track Nominees: Logan Stahl - Eastern Washington; Jenner Higgins - Idaho; Joe Simmons - Idaho State; Diego Leon - Montana State; Josh Pillath - North Dakota; Stephen Haas - Northern Colorado; Alex Cisneros - Portland State; Alec Foster - Sacramento State; Mike Tate - Southern Utah; Dallin Leatham - Weber State
Other Men’s Field Nominees: Tim Beard - Eastern Washington; Quinn Mitchell - Idaho; Trevor Jensen - Idaho State; Jensen Lillquist - Montana; Chris Evenson - North Dakota; Cameron Rayford - Northern Arizona; Solomon Rayvon - Northern Colorado; Donte Robinson - Portland State; Darius Armstead - Sacramento State; Jordan Porcaro - Southern Utah; Anthony Gregory - Weber State