SAN MARCOS, Texas – Northwestern State track and field athletes, led by Jasmyn Steels' fourth-place long jump, posted four top-eight finishes at the Texas State Bobcat Invitational Friday.
 
Steels was fourth in the women's long jump (19-1 ¼). Kie'Ave Harry ran fifth (10.59) and Tre'Darius Carr sixth (10.66) in the men's 100-meter dash.
 
In her first collegiate race in the 100, Deja Moore placed fifth (11.90). Teammate Natashia Jackson finished 15th (12.19) after running two relays 40 minutes up Interstate 35 earlier in the day at the Texas Relays.
 
"Deja had a great meet. To run 11.90 in her first collegiate meet in the event is remarkable. She has room to grow and she should be able to run 11.60 or 11.70 by the end of the outdoor season," associate head coach Adam Pennington said.
 
"Natashia was exhausted from running the 4x100 and 4x400 relay earlier, so her time today did not accurately reflect her usual performance," Pennington said.
 
In the long jump, David Moritz was ninth with a mark of 22-11 ¾. Freshman Markeit Steverson made his outdoor season debut after missing the first three meets due to injury and came in 17th (22-4 ¼).
 
School record-holder Marquise Foster fouled out in the men's hammer.
 
NSU returns to action at Texas State Saturday in two events: the women's triple jump and men's javelin. Steels is participating in the triple jump, and Collin Milton is competing in the men's javelin. Milton has the second-best mark in the Southland Conference (191-6).
 
Since Harry, Moore, and Jackson are participating at the Texas Relays Saturday, they will not run at Texas State in the 200 Saturday afternoon.
 
"Carr might run (in San Marcos) tomorrow but Deja, Kie'Ave, and Natashia will not because they will be competing at the Texas Relays," Pennington said.
 
 
After this weekend, NSU goes to compete at the Stephen F. Austin Skechers Carl Kight Invitational next Friday and Saturday.   
 
Follow live results of the Invitational at http://www.results.corinthwellness.com/texasinvite18/.