The Grand Canyon heads north for Friday night’s Ax M Open at the Walkup Skydome in northern Arizona.
This will be Lopez’s second competition of the season, but GCU’s first major competition with more than 90 student-athletes participating.
Field events begin at 1 p.m. and running events begin at 3 p.m.
“We are all very excited to begin the 2025 indoor season and compete as a complete team,” said GCU head coach Tom Flood. “December’s opener in Spokane was impressive, and I’m excited to get the chance to watch everyone play this Friday at NAU. It shows exactly how our training has been. It becomes something.”
GCU had about 30 players compete in the Spokane Invitational on Dec. 14 to open the season. But three times that amount would mean a two-hour trek up Interstate 17 before Friday’s competition.
In its season opener, Flood said GCU put together “the best first game ever in our program’s storied history.” While several new players had impressive first performances in GCU colors, a long list of experienced returning players also balanced out the overall effort.
“We have had great practices in all disciplines this fall and will once again be a very balanced team,” Flood said. “As always with our first indoor competition, we’ll be trying to shake off some of the holiday rust.”
It has been 27 days since GCU’s last meet, the only extended gap in the indoor season. GCU will compete every weekend, starting with the Friday Night Ax-M Open and ending with the WAC Indoor Championships in Spokane on February 28th.
“This year, I want to defend the WAC indoor title for the women’s team and start making a run to get back to winning ways with the Spokane men’s team,” Flood said. “As always, we will rely on our veteran leadership, but we also look forward to watching all of our talented newcomers compete.”
The girls won the 2024 WAC Indoor Track and Field Championships, the program’s sixth. The men’s team’s seven-year winning streak ended, but they later regained WAC supremacy during the outdoor season.
“If both teams can stay healthy and hungry this year, both teams will have a great chance to be at the top of the WAC podium again this year,” Flood said.
Friday will be the first of four meets in Flagstaff. GCU will also compete in Albuquerque three times and Spokane twice, including the WAC Indoor Championships.
Live results for Friday’s action will be available here.
