Northern Arizona Tabbed as Men’s and Women’s #BigSkyTF Outdoor Favorites
FARMINGTON, Utah (March 24, 2021) – The results of the Big Sky Outdoor Track & Field Coaches Polls are in, and the Lumberjacks of Northern Arizona have been selected as the top team on both the men’s and women’s side leading up to the 2021 Big Sky Outdoor Championships.
On the men’s side, the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks were selected to claim the 2021 Big Sky Conference Championship, receiving all but one first-place vote and 120 total points. NAU last claimed an outdoor championship in 2018, where they scored 131 points. Since 2010, the Lumberjacks have claimed six outdoor titles. They will also receive a massive boost from their distance squad, who recently claimed the NCAA Cross Country National Championship.
The Bobcats of Montana State were selected as the Big Sky runner-up, receiving 91 total points. MSU made a lot of waves during the indoor campaign, culminating in Duncan Hamilton running at the 2021 NCAA Indoor Track & Field National Championships.
Southern Utah, the Big Sky defending champions, were slotted third with 87 points and one first-place vote. The Thunderbirds claimed the 2019 Big Sky Conference Championship in Missoula, Montana, which was the last time a Big Sky Outdoor T&F trophy was handed out.
Idaho State and Idaho were selected fourth and fifth respectively, followed by Weber State in sixth.
Montana, Eastern Washington, Sacramento State, Northern Colorado and Portland State rounded out the predictions by the coaches in that order.
On the women’s side, the Lumberjacks of Northern Arizona received five of the 11 available first-place votes, and racked up 111 total points. Despite finishing sixth in the 2019 championships, NAU has claimed three of the last four Big Sky outdoor titles, winning in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Picked second with 100 total points and one first-place vote, Weber State will be looking to improve on their runner-up finish from the 2019 championships.
Receiving four first-place votes and 99 total points, the Hornets of Sacramento State have been picked third in the Big Sky heading into their campaign. The Hornets are the defending Big Sky champs, claiming the 2019 title in Missoula with 144 total points.
Montana State and Idaho State were selected fourth and fifth respectively, with Southern Utah’s women being picked sixth and receiving the final first-place vote.
Idaho, Montana, Eastern Washington, Northern Colorado and Portland State wrapped up the remainder of the women’s poll.
On both the men’s and women’s side the reigning Big Sky champs were selected third by the coaches, with Southern Utah’s men and Sacramento State’s women holding those slots.
The 2021 Big Sky Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held in Ogden, and will run from Wednesday, May 12-Saturday, May 15. Weber State University is the host of the 2021 Big Sky Championships.
Men’s Outdoor T&F Coaches Poll Results
| Northern Arizona |
120 (10) |
| Montana State |
91 |
| Southern Utah |
87 (1) |
| Idaho State |
77 |
| Idaho |
74 |
| Weber State |
73 |
| Montana |
62 |
| Eastern Washington |
55 |
| Sacramento State |
48 |
| Northern Colorado |
24 |
| Portland State |
15 |
Women’s Outdoor T&F Coaches Poll Results
| Northern Arizona |
111 (5) |
| Weber State |
100 (1) |
| Sacramento State |
99 (4) |
| Montana State |
82 |
| Idaho State |
74 |
| Southern Utah |
70 (1) |
| Idaho |
61 |
| Montana |
49 |
| Eastern Washington |
44 |
| Northern Colorado |
24 |
| Portland State |
12 |
() – First-Place Votes