LEXINGTON, Ky.—The 4×400 relay has always been the signature track event for Northwestern State, dating back decades.
The 2025 quartet added to the sparkling history at NSU Friday night at the NCAA East Region championships. The Demons set a school record with a time of 3:02.73 and punched their ticket to Eugene, Ore., for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Desmond Duncan, Kason Jones, Charlie Bartholomew and Will Achee became the first NSU men’s 4×400 relay to reach nationals since 2003. They ran in the first of three eight-team heats as one of 24 East Region qualifiers, and their time wound up 11th, just among the top 12 that go on to the national meet.
Running anchor, Achee was in sixth place with about 100 yards remaining and blew past Charlotte and nearly caught South Florida in fourth place.
“I’m just happy for the guys,” associate head coach Adam Pennington said. “In this meet you have to be at your best and they were.
“As for the race itself it was stressful to watch and wait (through the next two heats). The atmosphere in that (first) heat was unreal. It was one of the fastest and most competitive races I’ve ever been a part of. Overall, I’m proud of the record, but I’m even more excited about the opportunity to compete against the best in the country and see what we can do at nationals. This is a great moment for the program.”
The Demons will go to Oregon seeded 17th in the 24-team 4×400 field. The top 16 finishers earn All-America honors at the national meet June 10-13.
In other events Friday night at the East Region meet involving NSU, the Demons’ 4×100 relay, which finished 17th with a time of 39.38, just shy of the season’s best of 39.22.
Tarajh Hudson nearly reached the national meet in the discus, as it took until the final flight to knock him out of the top 12. Hudson tossed a season-best 185-7 to finish 14th, by far his highest finish in his four trips to regionals.
In his three previous trips to the NCAA First Round, Hudson’s best finish was 24th and best toss was 175-5.
He was in the second flight among 48 qualifiersand led after the first two flights and was fourth after the third flight. But the fourth flight had the throwers with the top 12 tosses this season, and 10 of the 12 finished with longer throws than Hudson, whose career ends as one of the best discus throwers in NSU history.
Senior Randy Kelly nearly matched a personal best with a clearance of 6-11 in the high jump, finishing 15th and nearly making his first trip to nationals.
He was actually tied for 12th at 6-11, but others had fewer misses on the 6-11 bar.