Northwestern State’s track and field record book was updated for the third time this indoor season Saturday when Rushana Dwyer lowered the women’s 800-meter run standard by more than two seconds at the Woo Pig Classic on the campus of the University of Arkansas.
“Overall, it was a really good meet,” head coach Mike Heimerman said. “We had a lot of great performances across the board, led by the men’s sprinters. It was fun to watch them work. The 200’s and 400’s were great. We still have room for improvement, and they will be some of the first people to say that.
“Rushana broke the school record in the 800 and what was most impressive is that she wasn’t 100 percent and almost didn’t run because of that.”
Dwyer rolled across with a 2:11.85, more than two seconds faster than the eight-year-old mark set by Jessica Coleman.
Koen Beavers and Keontae’ Gaines had top three finishes in showed out in the men’s 60-meter dash. Gaines finished with the last qualifying time in the prelims with a 6.80 before running a season-best 6.70 in the finals to place second, while Beavers ran a 6.79 in the qualifiers to finish seventh before sprinting to a 6.71 to come in third in the finals.
Gaines wasn’t finished with his terrific day, winning the men’s 200-meter dash, clocking a 20.90, which is second in the Southland Conference this season. NSU finished with three in the top four.
Elijah Rowe (21.18) placed second and Will Achee ran a personal-best 21.34 to finish fourth.
The teams compete at Texas Tech next Saturday, then at the Southland Conference Indoor Championships.
SOFTBALL: Free passes and missed chances cost Northwestern a pair of games Sunday in the final day of the Getterman Classic at Baylor.
The Demons (0-5) put runners on base in five of the seven innings against New Mexico (2-3) but were unable to produce any runs in a 2-0 loss to the Lobos. Six walks in the first two innings against Baylor (4-1) led to six early runs and an eventual 9-1 run-rule loss in five innings.
Saturday, Northwestern dropped a 7-6 decision to Wichita State and lost 3-0 to New Mexico. In the season opener Friday, 24th-ranked Mississippi State topped NSU 9-3.
TENNIS: The Lady Demons delivered a dominant performance Sunday afternoon at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex, sweeping LSU-Shreveport 7–0. Northwestern (2-2) surrendered only four games combined in the five straight-set singles wins, along with a singles win by default.
The Lady Demons remain in Natchitoches as Tyler Junior College comes to the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex on Friday and Grambling on Saturday.