ABOUT THE NAU TEAM CHALLENGE
Long Beach State will be sending 22 men and 24 women to the NAU Team Challenge, which will be held at J.L. Walkup Skydome on the campus of Northern Arizona.

The one-day event features a double-dual meet scoring format with UCLA, Southern Utah, Northern Arizona, Arizona State, Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State competing on both the men's and women's side.

"This weekend we really want to focus on the development and progression of our team," said 49er head coach Andy Sythe. "The anticipation for this meet is high, not only because we have been training for such a long time, but also because it is a great facility and solid competition."

49ER WEEKEND PREVIEW
The Beach will be competing in every event group except for the distances at the NAU Team Challenge. The LBSU men have high expectations for their contingent of jumpers, led by Alex Black, who currently ranks ninth all-time in school history in the high jump (6-08).

Seniors Alex Goldberg (200m, 400m) and Kenneth Medwood (400m) will lead a strong sprint group that also includes freshman Nathan Alade, who is set to make his debut for the 49ers in the short sprints. Christopher Lawson and Nimrod Piggee look to guide the hurdlers, while Colin Dunbar, Rajan Bains, Peter Fourtounis and Cesar Puga will all compete in the shot put and weight throw.

On the women's side, senior Miia Mobley, who redshirted the 2009 outdoor season, will compete in both the triple and long jump. Mobley is the 49ers' indoor and outdoor school-record holder in the triple jump. She will be joined by Gabrielle Broomfield, while Tayler O'Connor, Janelle Coulter and Katrina Graves-Johnson will take on the high jump duties.

Kristen Kiefer also returns from a redshirt season, competing in the 60m hurdles and the long jump, while Destanie Yarbrough, Rachel Hammar, Shari Harris and Alexandra Cervantes make up LBSU's contingent of throwers.

REWIND: UW INVITATIONAL & POLE VAULT SUMMIT RECAP
The Beach distance runners opened the indoor season last weekend at the UW Invitational in Seattle. Senior Alex Freitas led the men as he finished 10th overall in the 800m with a time of 1:51.37. Both the men's and women's distance medley relay teams also notched the third-fastest times in school history.

The 49ers sent six vaulters to the Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nev., Jan. 29-30. Brandon Dawes was the lone 49er on the men's side, clearing 4.50 meters, while Kayla Kamaka and Katelyn Beighton led the women with a height of 3.30 meters.

UP NEXT
Long Beach State will have a split squad next weekend with one group returning to Flagstaff, Ariz., for the NAU Invitational (Feb. 13) and a second group heading to Seattle, Wash., for the Husky Classic (Feb. 13-14).