FARMINGTON, Utah (May 18, 2023) – The Big Sky Conference office has announced the remainder of its Outdoor Track & Field Individual Awards, celebrating the best of the best this campaign.
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year – Colin Sahlman, Northern Arizona
Continuing a phenomenal freshman campaign for Northern Arizona spanning all three seasons, Colin Sahlman has been named Big Sky Outdoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year.
He was also this year’s Cross Country Freshman of the Year.
Sahlman claimed gold in both the 800-meter and the 1,500-meter at the 2023 Big Sky Conference Championships, scoring 20 points for the Lumberjacks.
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year – Payge Walz, Weber State
Scoring 14 points for the Wildcats at the Outdoor Championships, Wildcat Payge Walz has been named Women’s Freshman of the Year.
Walz competed in the 100-meter, the 200-meter, the 100-meter hurdles, the 4x100-meter relay, the 4x400-meter relay along with the women’s heptathlon where she finished in fourth place.
Men’s & Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year – Mike Smith, Northern Arizona
For the fifth time on the women’s side, and the fourth time on the men’s side, Northern Arizona University Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Mike Smith has been named Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year.
Smith helped guide the Lumberjacks to their third-consecutive titles on both the men’s and women’s side last week in Greeley, Colorado, and also completed a season long sweep, claiming both cross country, indoor and outdoor titles.
Next up for Big Sky Conference student-athletes will be NCAA West Prelims inside Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, California. The meet will take place from May 24-27.
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