The Mike Smith era at Northern Arizona University (NAU) came to a close with the Lumberjack women finishing fourth and the men in fifth at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Madison, Wisconsin. Despite solid performances, both teams were outpaced by BYU, which claimed the men’s and women’s team titles. The races marked a bittersweet end to Smith’s time as head coach.
The NAU women entered the 6K race ranked third, with high hopes after an impressive start. At the 3K mark, they held a 19-point lead over BYU, with senior Elise Stearns and Ali Upshaw performing well, and Maggi Congdon recovering from a poor regional performance. However, the team faded in the second half, with Stearns dropping 15 places and Congdon falling to 71st by the finish.
Despite these struggles, Upshaw remained steady, finishing 22nd overall and 17th in team scoring. Stearns rallied to place 36th, and Keira Moore finished 60th. The team ended in fourth place, unable to overcome West Virginia and Providence, which claimed second and third, respectively.
On the men’s side, NAU adopted a conservative approach in the 10K race and made a strong push at the end. Senior transfer David Mullarkey led the charge, moving up 10 spots in the final kilometer to finish as the team’s top scorer. Prosser and Gorgas also closed well, finishing 38th and 60th, as the team gained 21 places in the final stretch.
Ultimately, the men finished fifth, just missing out on a podium spot. The race was a solid showing, considering the team’s more conservative strategy. NAU’s late surge reflected the team’s resilience and determination.
In his final race as head coach, Mike Smith’s teams demonstrated strength, but the championships ended without the titles they hoped for. Despite the tough finish, Smith leaves a legacy of competitiveness, with NAU continuing to be a top contender. His departure this spring marks the end of an era, but the program will carry his influence forward.
