ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Northwestern State junior Emmanuel Williams has defied the odds to be one of 16 qualifiers in the men's long jump at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, and Friday night he hopes to channel his excitement into winning All-America honors.

Williams, whose 25-6 leap at the Southland Conference Indoor Championships has him ranked ninth in the field, competes Friday at 7 p.m. (CST). All-America recognition goes to any competitor who records a mark in the preliminary round of three attempts, and the top eight finishers win first-team All-America recognition.

"He's been looking really, really good in training. I know he will be a little nervous, it being his first national meet, and really, that can be a good thing. He's excited, and we want that to work in his favor," said Demons coach Mike Heimerman. "He's primed to get another big jump. We know it's in there and we hope it happens Friday night."

Assistant coach Wesley Miller and Heimerman have worked with Williams, a Duson native and Acadiana High product, to devise a game plan. It follows the model used at the Southland Championships, where Williams nearly matched his personal record with a 24-8 opening jump and then hit his big mark on his fifth jump in the competition, the second of three in the finals.

"His first jump needs to be a safety jump, where you relax and get a good mark, and then he gets the green light to put it together and hit the board and be in the air for as long as he can," said Heimerman. "Strong competition brings out the best in him. He went to conference determined to get a 25-footer and he flew past that. The best college jumpers in the country are there Friday night so if he controls his nerves, channels his excitement and executes his plan, the opportunity is there for a great night.

"We are proud of him and happy for him. Being in the top 16 in the country, that's extremely impressive," said Heimerman. "Getting to this meet is a great achievement, and doing well in it would be even better."

Williams' teammates will begin the outdoor season Saturday at Lake Charles in the Cowboy Relays.