DES MOINES, Iowa -- Six of the seven Northwestern State athletes competing at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships get into action on the meet's opening day Wednesday, headlined by senior All-American Trecey Rew in the women's discus.

Rew begins Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the discus. At 5:45, the Demons' 4x100 meter relay team runs in a national semifinal hoping to qualify for the Saturday evening finals. Thursday, NSU freshman Jessica Talley throws in the javelin at 3:05. Rew will go into the shot put final Saturday morning at 11, with the 4x100 relay final just after noon (12:11).

In the discus, Rew is seeded fourth with her school-record 180-4 throw at the East Preliminary Round two weeks ago. The Demons' 4x100 relay team of freshman Raymond Hatton, sophomore Adam Smith, freshman Karllis Perry and sophomore Justin Walker, along with alternate Kendal Taylor, a sophomore - is seeded 15th among the 24 national qualifiers with their 40.11 qualifying time -- and by far, NSU has the youngest relay squad at the national meet.

Talley has a 158-6 best that ranks her 16th, while Rew is the No. 9 seed in the shot put with her season's best 54-8 at the regional meet. While making a run at a national title is the ultimate goal, and a realistic one for Rew, adding to NSU's collection of 61 NCAA Division I All-America honors is the foremost target. The top 16 finishers this week in each event will earn All-America honors under newly revised standards.

"I expect some big things this week," said Lady Demons head coach Mike Heimerman.  "Trecey has looked very good in both throws. She has been here (at the national championships) before and knows what to expect - there won't be any surprises. I don't know where she will place but she is going to drop some bombs if the weather is good.

"Jessica could do very well if she doesn't get too nervous. She also has looked sharp in practice and is expecting big things. We are looking for three school records and the placing will take care of it self if we do that."

Rew's school shot put mark is 54-11 1/4 last year. All-American Regina Roe set the Lady Demon javelin mark at 166-9 in 1999.

For the relay team, a school record is unlikely as the 39.03 in 1982 by All-Americans Mario Johnson, Edgar Washington, Rodney Brown and Mark Duper is likely untouchable - for now. But considering the youth of the current 4x100 squad, the future is bright. Veteran coach Leon Johnson's team is hoping to reach the eight-team final, and has a full-speed anchor leg runner in Walker and two more weeks of training to produce improvement needed to reach that goal. A strained groin hampered Walker at the regional meet, two weeks after this relay combination made its debut in winning the Southland Conference title.

"Justin is probably 98 percent healthy, and attitudes are great," said Johnson. "They haven't backed down from anything we've tried to do. There's a lot of confidence with the team and we're really looking forward to the challenge.

Shaving time off the 40.11 is a must to advance Wednesday evening, he said.

"I think we can run 39-low. 39.3-4. It's going to take that to have a chance to get to the finals. It comes down to handling the pressure, and so far, we've handled it well. The kids are going to be pumped, and I just hope they don't get too excited," said Johnson, wrapping up his 29th year in charge of the Demons. "I think they believe they can compete at this level. I haven't had to preach to this group, that they're good. They realize they can do it.

"We are the youngest team up here, and this group has a lot of opportunity ahead, beginning at this meet," said the 71-year-old coach. "I'm excited. I'd like to run right now."

It's the first time since 1993 the Demons have reached the national meet in the event that they won the national title in with the fabled foursome of Victor Oatis, Joe Delaney, Mario Johnson and Mark Duper in 1981.

Under revised rules, more national meet contestants will receive All-America recognition and anyone who takes part in the competition is guaranteed at least honorable mention All-America honors. Individuals and relay teams that place 1-8 to score points will receive U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association first-team All-America honors. Those individuals and relays that place between ninth and 16th overall (including ties) will earn second-team All-America recognition.

Previously, the top eight finishers, and the top eight American-born finishers, were the only All-Americans to emerge from the meet, although the fields of 24 finalists in every event were the elite among roughly 700 and up to 1,200 athletes nationally who competed in those events during the season. 

Including Rew's All-America award last season in the shot put, NSU has won six previous women's All-America honors, four by Stephanie Sowell in the long and triple jump in 2003-04 indoors and outdoors, and the fifth in 2003 by Samantha Ford in the javelin. Sowell has provided the highest national finish by a Lady Demons with her runner-up showing in the 2004 long jump.

Northwestern has NCAA national championships from men's high jumper Brian Brown in 1990 with a 7-8 clearance at the NCAA Indoors, and the fabled 1981 Demons' 4x100 meter relay tandem of Victor Oatis, Joe Delaney, Mario Johnson and Mark Duper at the NCAA Outdoors.

NSU athletes have won 61 NCAA Division I All-America track and field awards, including four-time All-American Cody Fillinich in the javelin. Heimerman, also the throws coach for the NSU program, has seen four throwers (Rew, Ford, Fillinich and Latrell Frederick) win seven All-America honors since 2000.