NORMAN, Okla. – The Northwestern State men's and women's track and field teams each posted four medal-stand performances on Saturday, highlighting the final day of competition at the Southland Conference Indoor Championships.
 
The Demon sprint group grabbed three of the medal performances as Kendal Taylor, Justin Walker and freshman Hanoj Carter all placed first or second in their events.
 
Walker, a junior, took second in the 60m dash with a time of 6.82, falling behind Southeastern Louisiana's Antonio Hebert by just .004 second. Walker also earned points in the 200m dash, finishing sixth in 22.07.
 
Taylor and Carter went one and two in the 200m with times of 21.51 and 21.73, respectively.  Taylor was the only Demon to earn an individual SLC Championship.

He just missed a top-three finish in the 60m, coming in .01 second behind Stephen F. Austin's Cass Brown-Stewart and .006 second behind Oral Robert's Joseph Reis-Herron to place fifth with a time of 6.84.
 
“I was very proud of our sprint group today,” said Demon head coach Leon Johnson. “They competed very hard and ran faster times that I had expected.”
 
Triple jumper Wayne Douglas was the fourth medal-winner for the NSU men, leaping for a personal-best mark of 50-11.00 and placing second.
 
“Wayne had his best jump ever in the triple jump today,” said Johnson. “I was very pleased with his performance.”
 
Sophomore Aaron Williams also had a career-best performance in the triple jump, registering a mark of 49-00.75.
 
The Demons scored in six other events to finish fifth with a total of 74.5 points.
 
Freshman Lionel Ellison tied his personal-best mark of 6-06.75 in the high jump, placing fourth, while junior Alex Washington finished sixth, clearing a personal-best height of 6-04.75.
 
“Lionel and Alex both had a tremendous weekend,” said Johnson. “I had hoped Lionel would place in the top three but he had a very clean day and did not miss until he attempted 6-8.50, which would have put him in third.”
 
Austin McCauslin set another personal-record in the 800m, finishing fifth with a time of 1:55.73 and Brent Giddens place eighth in the 60m hurdles in 8.70.
 
McCauslin was also the third leg of the men's 4x440 relay with teammates Jarrod Charles, Lawrence Jackson and Keenan Jackson. The quartet finish fifth in a season-best 3:22.33.
 
“Austin is an excellent competitor so I was very happy to see him place well in the 800 and run a good split in the 4x440.”
 
Thrower Gerrod Hilliard placed seventh in the shot put with a heave of 47-08.00.
 
“Overall I think the team competed very well,” said Johnson. “If we continue to perform this way then we should do much better in the outdoor season.”
 
The field athletes did the heavy lifting on the women's side as jumper Jerrica Tillery and thrower Keona Jackson earned three of the Lady Demons' four medals.
 
Tillery leaped 40-02.25 in the triple jump to secure the only individual championship for the NSU women. It was the sophomore's first time clearing 40 feet and replaces her previous best mark of 39-10.50 as the fifth best jump in NSU history.
 
Tillery also recorded the third best mark in the high jump, successfully jumping 5-05.00 in only her second time competing in the event this season.
 
“It was a great day for Jerrica,” said Lady Demon head coach Mike Heimerman. “I was happy to see her do so well.”
 
Jackson also had a personal-best, throwing for 47-09.75 in the shot put and earning a third place finish.  Jackson also earned points for the women's team in the weight after throwing for 55-08.25 and placing fourth.
 
“Keona had a personal record in the shot put today and ended up placing third,” said Heimerman. “She could not throw the big one for first place but I am still very pleased with her results.”
 
The Lady Demon 4x440 squad of Quiana Griffin, Constance Seibles, Madison Morton and Consuela Lindsay placed second with a season-best time of 3:49.42, almost four seconds faster than their previous best time.
 
The women's team had five other athletes score as they finished seventh and compiled 51.5 total points.
 
Senior Janae Allen placed sixth in the weight throw and the shot put with marks of 54-04.50 and 46-07.25, respectively.
 
Freshman Rechelle Bessard had a standout performance in the shot put, throwing for 46-11.50, almost two feet further than her previous best mark of 45-01.75, almost finishing fourth.
 
Consuela Lindsay placed sixth in the 400m dash with a season-best time of 57.54 and Karensa Ellis finished seventh in the 800m in 2:19.31.
 
“Overall, things just did not fall our way,” said Heimerman. “A few points can make a very big difference in the standings and just fell short. In the next few weeks we will regroup and start preparing for outdoor season.”
 
SFA swept the SLC Indoor Championships as the women took home their fifth straight title and the men took home their second title ever.
 
 Full Results