The Northwestern State track and field teams left the Pittsburg State Invitational with a slew of top performances, and coach Adam Pennington took note as the Demons and Lady Demons effort resulted in a combined 12-medal stand finishes, including seven-second places.
“Excluding competing for a conference championship, this was the best meet we’ve had in the last two years,” Pennington said.
Lady Demon Daeshon Gordon winning the women’s 60-meter hurdles and contributing to the Lady Demons’ victory in the 4×400 relay highlighted the meet, along with the Demons’ Micah Larkinscontinuing to charge up the world rankings in the 60-meter sprints.
Gordon, a junior out of Pompano Beach, FL, nabbed her second straight win in the hurdles with a time of 8.27 after previously winning at the UAB Vulcan Invite. Her performance in the 60-meter hurdles now ranks top-25 nationally. In the relay, she teamed with Tamara Styles, Natashia Jackson and De’Shalyn Jones for a first-place time of 3:45.37.
In sprints, the Lady Demons now are tops in the Southland Conference in every event. Jermeka McBrideand Natashia Jackson both medaled in the 200-meter dash, as McBride took silver (24.28) and Jackson claimed bronze (24.56). Jackson, a standout freshman from Houston, Texas, also took home a second-place finish in the 400-meters (55.78.).
Others contributing for the Lady Demons were Jasmyn Steels, Destiney Myers and Gerianna Lyons.
Steels, who is fresh off a win in the long jump at the UAB Vulcan, once again found the podium after leaping 19-05.25 this week to claim silver.
Lyons and Myers each had their best performance of the year in the weight throw and shot put, respectively. Lyons a junior from Baldwin, finished second with a toss of 54-07.50, while Myers’ shot put of 46-00.00 found her in third place.
On the men’s side, sophomore Larkins continued to show why he is one of the premier sprinter in the Southland Conference. His time of 6.68 in the 60-meter final resulted in a second-place finish. But more importantly, it placed him in the top-20 nationally, and in the top-50 worldwide.
Amir James, another top performer for the Demons, finished third in the 200-meter dash with his time of 21.34, while also helping the 4×400 relay team of George Flaviano, Larkins and Charlie Milton to a silver medal with a time of 3:13.72.
Distance runner Josh Wilkins continued his dominance, running a one-mile time of 4:19.88, which resulted in a second-place finish.
NSU track and field will head back to one of the nation’s best facilities in Pittsburg State, as they are set to return for the second annual Indoor Gorilla Classic on Feb. 10.