NAU Track & Field Splits Squad for Stanford, Triton Invitationals

Lumberjacks send distance runners to Stanford, sprinters and field athletes to Triton Invitational

Apr. 2, 2026 at 4:07am

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Northern Arizona University's track and field team is splitting its squad this weekend, with the distance runners competing at the prestigious Stanford Invitational and the sprinters, hurdlers, jumpers, and throwers heading to the Triton Invitational. The meets provide early-season opportunities for the Lumberjacks to build national marks across event groups as they continue their outdoor season.

Why it matters

These two invitationals are important early-season competitions for NAU, allowing the team to gauge its progress and identify areas for improvement as they work towards conference and national qualifying marks. The split-squad approach enables the Lumberjacks to maximize their representation and performance across a wide range of events.

The details

At the Stanford Invitational, NAU's distance squad will be led by NCAA indoor 800m record holder Colin Sahlman, who is entered in the 5,000m. On the women's side, Hayley Burns headlines a deep group in the 5,000m. Meanwhile, the Triton Invitational will feature NAU's sprinters, hurdlers, jumpers, and throwers, including school record holder Josiah Johnson in the 400m hurdles.

  • The Stanford Invitational will take place on April 3.
  • The Triton Invitational is scheduled for April 3-4.

The players

Colin Sahlman

The NCAA indoor 800-meter collegiate record holder and a key piece of NAU's national championship distance medley relay team.

Hayley Burns

One of the most accomplished runners in the field at the Stanford Invitational, following a dominant indoor season.

Josiah Johnson

Opened the outdoor season with a school record 49.56 in the 400-meter hurdles, which ranks No. 1 in the NCAA and among the top times in the world this season.

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The takeaway

NAU's split-squad approach to these early-season invitationals demonstrates the team's depth and versatility, as they look to build momentum and qualify athletes for the NCAA Outdoor Championships later in the season.