COLLEGE STATION, Texas—It was an impressive end to the pre-conference season for Northwestern State, as many athletes recorded personal bests Saturday at the Alumni Muster in the final meet prior to the Southland Conference Championships.
All in all, 18 personal bests and 10 more season bests were either set or tied by NSU athletes at the Texas A&M meet with many coming on the track.
“I am very happy with everybody’s performances and in their work today after yesterday since it was just a miserable day travel day with all the rain,” head coach Mike Heimerman said. “I think this morning we woke up at 49 degrees and it ended up being a gorgeous day. The wind was good early and then faded in the afternoon when we kind of needed it.”
Five Lady Demons set personal bests in the women’s 200-meter dash and one more set a season best.
Rushana Dwyer, the reigning SLC Female Track Athlete of the Week, focused on the 200 at the meet and clocked a 23.57 to finish seventh.
Coming in closely behind was Margaret Conteh in 23.84, another personal best.
Two more NSU competitors posted personal bests and three recorded season bests in the men’s 100-meter dash, led by Koen Beavers’ 10.31 to post a personal best and move into the top five in the conference.
“We did a lot of good things happen today on the track,” Heimerman said. “We had some PRs in the field events too, but we did a lot of things that we wanted accomplished today. We didn’t get any luck with the winds in the 100s or 200s to help us with some better marks. Even with the little wind, we still ran very well. A lot of kids saw some positive things that’ll help them out for a conference.”
To kick off the running events, both NSU men and women teams ran season bests in the 4×100 relay, increasing their lead in the SLC.
The women’s team ran 44.84 to finish second out of seven, while the men’s team also placed second with a time of 39.42.
In the field events, three more posted personal bests and three also recorded season bests.
Shakera Kirk tossed a personal best 170-05 in the women’s discus to finish third.
In the men’s discus, Tarajh Hudson placed third with a toss of 182-1 and Seth Smith recorded a throw of 165-4 to finish fifth.
Teodora Samac continued a sensational season with a personal-best throw of 161-11 to finish fourth in the women’s javelin. Anisha Gibbons (152-4) placed seventh.
Shakera Williams finished fourth in the women’s shot put with a season-best toss of 47-11.25. Ryah Dates came in closely behind with a throw of 44-1.5 to place sixth.
Three advanced to the finals in the men’s shot put, led by La’Darion Dudley’s 53-1.75 to finish sixth.
Three Demons reached the men’s long jump finals, led by Roy Morris’ 23-8.25 to place sixth.
Randy Kelly had a strong showing in his signature event, the high jump, clearing 6-11.5 to finish fourth.
Next up is the conference meet, a three-day meet that begins May 14 on the campus of Stephen F. Austin.