DES MOINES, Iowa – Northwestern State freshman Ashley Aldredge lines up in one of the nation's premiere collegiate track and field meets Friday as she takes part in the women's javelin competition at the Drake Relays, while the rest of the NSU teams will compete Saturday in Lafayette at the Cole-Lancon Invitational.
 
Aldredge ranks 14^th nationally with her best mark of 166-0 April 6 at the Leon Johnson NSU Invitational. Several more of the nation's top throwers will be in the field at Drake.
 
Saturday at Cajun Track on the Louisiana-Lafayette campus, the rest of the Northwestern competitors will go through their last meet before the May 11-13 Southland Conference Championships. While both NSU teams have plenty of qualifiers for the conference meet, coaches Leon Johnson and Mike Heimerman are hoping to enhance the NCAA qualifying chances for their athletes.
 
Lady Demons who are ranked in the top 10 in the Southland standings, along with Aldredge (first), include Quiana Griffin in the 400 (a school-record 54.96, second in the SLC), Consuela Lindsay in the 400 meter hurdles (a school-record 1:00.68, third in the SLC), the 4x400 relay team of Lindsay, Constance Seibles, Lawana Perkins and Griffin (3:42.86, third in conference), the 4x100 relay of Angelica Kotun, Griffin, Seibles and Lindsay (46.08, seventh), Ali Fontenot in the 3000 meter steeplechase (11:28.70, seventh), Sarah Emory in the 10,000 (39:43.38, eighth), Chantel Bratton in the shot put (47-11 ¼, third), Janae Allen and Shakemia Johnson (139-7, 10^th) in the discus (150-9, third); and Allen (168-6, sixth), Bratton (166-6, seventh) and Keona Jackson (164-5, ninth) in the hammer.
 
Demons in the top 10: Trey Hatton (100 meters, 10.61, eighth), Kendal Taylor (200, 21.40, sixth), Mark Dotson (10,000, 33:27.31, 10^th), P.J. Bennett (110 meter hurdles, 14.59, seventh), the 4x100 relay foursome of Keenan Jackson, Karllis Perry, Dez Williams and Taylor (40.92, fifth), the 4x400 team of D.J. Beyette, Taylor, Travis Plumb and Jackson (3:11.43, fifth), Wayne Douglas (triple jump, 48-6 ¾, fifth), Aaron Williams (triple jump, 47-6 ½, eighth), Emmanuel Williams (triple jump, 47-3 1/2, 10^th), and Kartemus Heary (javelin, 190-2, sixth).