Josiah Johnson Achieves Milestone in 400-Meter Hurdles at Mt. SAC Relays

NAU Athletes Add Seven Top-Ten Entries in Program History During Weekend Events

Maggi Congdon continued to showcase her dominance in collegiate track by setting a new Northern Arizona University (NAU) and Big Sky Conference record in the 1,500 meters at the Bryan Clay Invitational. Her outstanding performance in Azusa, California, saw her clock an impressive time of 4:07.23, shaving 0.58 seconds off her previous school record of 4:07.81. This achievement came just a day after she broke a 38-year-old record in the 800 meters, further demonstrating her remarkable consistency and skill. The NAU track and field team had a highly active weekend, competing across three major meets in California. Distance runners, sprinters, and jumpers participated in the Bryan Clay Invitational, while throwers displayed their talent at the Beach Invitational in Long Beach. A group of male sprinters competed at the Mt. SAC Relays, underscoring the team’s versatility and commitment to excellence in athletics.

NAU athletes delivered exceptional performances, with seven new entries added to the school’s all-time top ten list, bringing the total to 15 since April 16. In the women’s 1,500 meters, Keira Moore recorded a time of 4:18.01 to rank sixth in program history, closely followed by Maisie Grice with a time of 4:18.40, ranking seventh. Ava Mitchell achieved a personal best of 4:19.45, improving by over ten seconds to enter the top ten. On the men’s side, Ford Washburn excelled with a personal best of 3:40.52, cutting nine seconds from his previous record to finish 14th in the invitational section. Clay Shively opened his outdoor season with a time of 3:49.32, while Caleb Easton recorded 3:49.87 in the elite section. Corey Gorgas won his heat with a strong performance of 3:42.27.

The women’s 4x100-meter relay team, comprising Jordann Germain, LiNay Perry, Kyairra Reigh, and Shanye Harris, placed seventh with a time of 45.45, achieving the seventh-fastest performance in program history. Such results highlight NAU's exceptional progress and dedication to athletic excellence. At the Bryan Clay Invitational, Kyairra Reigh earned second place in the women’s 400 meters with a time of 53.90. Jordann Germain achieved a personal best of 55.69, finishing 19th, while Odessa Zentz set a personal record of 56.66 to place fourth. Germain also led in the 200 meters, clocking 24.65. In the 400-meter hurdles, LiNay Perry secured second place with a time of 58.72, narrowly missing her personal best, while Katherine Lemish recorded a personal best of 1:05.56.

In the men’s 400 meters, Luke Yruretagoyena excelled with a personal best of 48.16 and achieved a new mark in the 200 meters at 22.51. Kyle Smith led the men’s 100 meters, finishing ninth with 10.66, followed by Khamis Hassan at 10.72 and Lamar Smith at 10.73. The trio, along with a fourth teammate, secured sixth place in the 4x100-meter relay with a time of 40.99. Kyle Smith also achieved an eighth-place finish in the 200 meters with 21.27, followed by Lamar Smith at 21.89. These performances demonstrate NAU's ability to compete at the highest level.

Shon Martin achieved a personal best of 14.57 in the 110-meter hurdles, finishing 17th. In the women’s 100-meter hurdles, Sydnie Watkins clocked 14.51, narrowly ahead of Katherine Lemish at 14.63. In field events, Brenna Rodriguez placed 12th in the women’s long jump with a mark of 5.70m, while Alexa Hamilton achieved a personal best of 5.55m to finish 15th. Hamilton also claimed 13th in the triple jump with a mark of 11.70m. On the men’s side, Ian Lipsey led in the long jump, finishing 14th with 6.93m, followed by Malachi Marshall in 17th at 6.83m. Carter Anderson achieved a personal best in the high jump, clearing 1.96m to place 12th, while Christian Mutengela matched the height and added a long jump mark of 6.32m. Sir Butler secured eighth in the triple jump with 14.49m.

At the Mt. SAC Relays, Josiah Johnson delivered a standout performance by finishing second in the 400-meter hurdles with a personal best of 51.13, ranking him fourth in NAU program history. Nicolas Martinez recorded a personal best in the same event, clocking 53.55. Tyson Givens excelled with a time of 14.25 in the 110-meter hurdles, earning ninth place, and later clocked 53.03 in the 400-meter hurdles to finish 15th. Despite competing earlier at Bryan Clay, Khamis Hassan returned to the track for the 200 meters and delivered a solid performance of 21.99. The men’s 4x400-meter relay team closed the day with a strong 10th-place finish in 3:13.25. At the Beach Invitational in Long Beach, throwers delivered strong performances. Desmond Lott earned a podium finish in the men’s hammer throw with a personal best of 64.93m, placing third and securing the fifth-best mark in program history. Teammates Nikolas Strait (54.51m) and Grant Wade (48.02m) also achieved personal bests. In the women’s hammer throw, Sariyah Horne-Kemp reached the finals and placed sixth with a mark of 59.02m, while Jamie Jacobs achieved a personal best of 53.96m. Ronan Gallagher made her outdoor debut with a throw of 50.31m.

In the men’s javelin, Trevor Hook and Clay Carbajal secured fifth and sixth places with throws of 61.89m and 61.62m, respectively, while Austin Taylor achieved a personal best of 56.97m to finish 16th. On the women’s side, Emilia Betlej placed 15th with a throw of 38.79m. These performances reflect the team's dedication and highlight their strength across various events. As NAU athletes wrap up their rigorous four-day stretch, their achievements underscore the program's versatility, commitment to excellence, and ability to compete at the highest level.

Editor's Note:

Northern Arizona University's (NAU) track and field team has consistently demonstrated exceptional prowess in collegiate athletics, with recent performances further solidifying its position as a competitive force. The team's achievements across multiple meets in California highlight individual brilliance and the collective dedication and versatility of its athletes. From record-breaking runs by Maggi Congdon to outstanding field events and relay performances, NAU athletes continue to push boundaries and set new benchmarks for excellence. These accomplishments not only reflect the hard work and determination of the athletes but also underscore the university's commitment to fostering talent and competitiveness in sports.

Skoobuzz believes that as the team concludes its packed weekend of events, its remarkable performances serve as an inspiration and a testament to its pursuit of greatness on and off the track.