HAMMOND – Northwestern State doubled in the triple jump Saturday at the 2015 Southland Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships as Por'sha Thomas won her fourth consecutive conference crown and Emmanuel Williams completed his second sweep of the men's long and triple jump titles.

The women's triple jump was doubly nice for the Lady Demons as Breann Denson was runner-up with a huge personal record mark, with the 18 points scored by she and Thomas pushing NSU into second in the team standings among 13 schools heading into Sunday's final day of competition.

Thomas, a junior, won by more than a foot with her second career 42-foot mark, 42-1 ¼, while Denson, also a junior, went nearly 18 inches past her previous best on a 40-11 ½ leap.

Williams, a junior who swept the long and triple jump at the 2014 Southland Indoors, was redshirted last outdoor season and in the 2015 indoor campaign. He posted a personal best 50-11 to win Saturday, and needed it as McNeese's John Lemke had a PR by nearly a foot (50-7 ¼) to challenge the favored Williams.

The Lady Demons got a second straight Southland Outdoors silver medal in the shot put from senior Keona Jackson (50-0), who was two inches away from winning. In the men's shot, NSU freshman Cedric Paul scored a point with a 49-7 throw for eighth.

Freshman Tanner Owens became the first Demon decathlete to score in the multi-events at the conference meet since 1999 when he claimed sixth in the two-day competition, scoring 6,249 points.

The Demons sit in a fifth-place tie with Lamar at 24 points heading into Sunday's events, which include finals in all sprints and both relays, where NSU could score well.

Freshman Amir James won both his heats Saturday with PRs and will contend for top three finishes in the 100 (10.52 Saturday) and the 200 (21.07). Senior Keenan Jackson also made the 200 final (21.23) and they will team up Sunday on the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.

Other Demons' qualifiers from Saturday's running preliminaries:  freshman Anthony Taylor in the 400 (sixth, a PR of 47.69), freshman Joshua Wilkins in the 1500 (11^th, a PR of 3:58.04), and senior Brent Giddens in the 110 hurdles (fifth, 14.53).

For the Lady Demons, freshman De'Shalyn Jones headed into Sunday finals in the 200 (fifth, 24.40) and 400 (second, 55.23). Freshman Braneshia Payton made it to the 100 meter hurdles final (seventh, 13.93).

Williams was pleased with the win, and posting a new personal record in the process.

"I haven't PR'd in two years so I'm happy about that. I had some board problems, I kept on taking off behind the board, but it's OK," he said. "I'm happy to get the win today. (Sweeping the events) this year is even more satisfying than the first time I was blessed enough to do it. I had some good competition today, with the guy from McNeese pushing me."

With the outcome clinched, he soared to an apparent big mark on his final attempt of the afternoon but the red flag signifying a foul wiped out the chance to measure it. It denied him one goal – to match or top his twin brother Aaron's best. Aaron, who swept long and triple jump crowns at the Southland Indoors this February, is redshirting outdoors. Both will compete next year for NSU as seniors indoors and outdoors.

"That last jump, I think, would have matched my brother's 52-6, but I had a foot foul. My main goal today was trying to match him or beat him. I've still got regionals at least, so it's still out there," said Williams. "Next year, it's going to be some competitive stuff with both of us out here."

The soft-spoken Thomas was nearly more pleased with her teammate's performance than her own.

"I'm very happy with the way things ended, first and second. She had a major PR, a great day, and I had a great day as well, although not a PR," she said.

Denson didn't see her big mark coming heading into the meet. She was hoping to finish second, but hardly expected to go nearly 18 inches past her lifetime best.

"Actually, I didn't expect it at all. I'm glad I had my teammates and my coaches to push me every step of the way," she said.

NSU coach Mike Heimerman had plenty of pride and optimism after Saturday's action concluded.

"Really solid day for the guys, led by Emmanuel winning the triple which we've come to expect, and Tanner scoring in the dec, making history as the first Demon this century in that event to put up points at conference. Cedric scored in the shot, even though he didn't have a good day – it wasn't because he didn't compete very hard. Sometimes that happens," said Heimerman.

"We qualified well in the sprints, Brent in the hurdles and Josh got in the 1500. We have the relays tomorrow, and the high jump where we can score well, so I think we can still get a top three finish. I'm excited about where we're at with just two seniors on the team.

After scoring 26 points in the triple jump and shot put Saturday, the Lady Demons remained on pace to challenge their all-time best standing at a conference meet. Heimerman was pleased with Saturday's outcomes and Sunday's potential.

"We were very happy to get 18 points in the triple. Por'sha winning her fourth straight championship is a tremendous feat, and for Breann (who was seeded third) to have a big PR and get second was wonderful. Keke (Jackson, in the shot) was throwing with a severely sprained ankle, and still very nearly won," he said.

"We had a pretty good day qualifying on the track, we have two very good field events remaining with the discus and high jump, and I think we still have a shot to match our best-ever team finish (second in 2011) which would be a great accomplishment for a team with a lot of young runners."

Results through Day 2 of 2015 Southland Outdoors

Start lists for Sunday's events