LAKE CHARLES – Northwestern State joins eight other teams Friday as they open the collegiate indoor track and field season at the Cowboy Indoor Track and Field Invitational.

Competition begins at 1 Friday afternoon at the Ralph O. Ward Rec-Complex on the McNeese State campus. Along with men and women's squads from NSU and the host McNeese teams, Nicholls, Southeastern Louisiana, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Southern, Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana-Lafayette and Hinds Community College are expected to compete.

With the meet coming at the end of the first week of classes at Northwestern, veteran men's coach Leon Johnson has modest expectations.

“We've come back from the holiday break in pretty decent shape, but still, we've had only three days of training since we've been back. We'll get our feet wet against other teams Friday afternoon but we probably won't be fielding a full squad until our second competition in two weeks,” said Johnson.

The Demons will not have standout sprinter Justin Walker, whose indoor season is in question as he is returning from offseason reconstructive knee surgery. Whether or not he redshirts will be determined soon by Walker, coaches and team doctors.

Kendal Taylor, another outstanding NSU sprinter, is probably not ready to compete due to a slight nagging injury. Still, the Demons' sprint corps is deep with Trey Hatton, Quincy Davison and Karliss Perry helping set the pace. In the 400, Dez Williams, Keenan Jackson and Lawrence Jackson should be strong entries.

Wayne Douglas, second in last year's Southland Conference Outdoor Championships in the triple jump, is ready to go. Johnson is optimistic about the addition of freshman high jumper Jordan Clark.

Travis Plumb and D.J. Beyette could be NSU's top middle distance entries Saturday. The Demons should be strong in the 4x400 meter relay and the distance medley relay, he said.

The Lady Demons have lots of talent back from the team which finished second in the SLC Outdoor Championships. Sprinters Quiana Griffin, Angelica Kotun, Consuela Lindsy and Constance Seibles headline a list of proven veterans, along with distance standouts Karensa Ellis and Lawana Perkins.

NSU will not compete next week before going to Missouri Southern on Jan. 27.