FARMINGTON, Utah (Nov. 13, 2024) – Starting his final year with the Lumberjacks on the right note, Northern Arizona’s Mike Smith has been named Big Sky Conference Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year, the league office announced today.
This decision was voted on, and unanimously so, in Smith’s favor by the league’s head coaches.
Northern Arizona completed its fourth-consecutive sweep of the Big Sky XC Championships in Pocatello, Idaho, where they also featured both individual champions.
David Mullarkey became the ninth Lumberjack in a row to claim the Big Sky’s men’s individual title, crossing the finish line in 23:06.6. NAU placed six runners on the men’s All-Conference Team, leading to a 24-point cushion in team standings.
After finishing in third place a season ago, NAU’s Ali Upshaw claimed this year’s Big Sky crown on the women’s side with a time of 16:10.4.
NAU had the top six finishers cross the finish line in the women’s race, including Elise Stearns in second place. Stearns was the two-time defending Big Sky champion and hadn’t competed since the league’s Indoor Championship this past February.
Those finishes marked the second-consecutive perfect score of 15 for the Lumberjack women.
For Smith, this is his seventh Coach of the Year title for each respective gender, compiling 14 total since taking over the program in 2017.
This summer, Smith announced he will step aside following the conclusion of the outdoor track and field season in 2025.
Northern Arizona’s season will continue this Friday when they compete at the NCAA Mountain Regionals in Reno, Nevada, looking to secure bids to the NCAA Division I National Championships.
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