PITTSBURG, Kansas – The indoor season reaches its midpoint Saturday for the Northwestern State track and field teams at the humongous Pittsburg State Invitational inside the luxurious, 154,000-square-foot, Robert W. Plaster Center on the campus of NCAA Division II's Pittsburg State University.
 
Making their way to the $13-million venue that hosted the 2016 and 2018 NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships, are roughly 1,200 athletes from 40 different schools across NCAA's Division I, II, and the NAIA and NJCAA ranks. The facility will house this year's DII Indoor Championship in March.
 
Head track and field coach Mike Heimerman says that he recognizes the magnitude of the meet and is eager to see what his teams can do.
 
"It's a very big meet. A lot of the schools from around the country are flying in so we'll see some of the best athletes from each division," said Heimerman. "It will be very competitive but hopefully we'll continue some of the winning ways we've had in the last two meets and continue to work towards our conference meet in a month."
 
Notable schools making the trip to Kansas include Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Tulsa, University of Texas-Tyler, South Dakota, Central Arkansas, Missouri State, Wichita State, DII defending indoor women's national champions West Texas A&M, and DII's defending indoor men's national champions, the hosting Gorillas.
 
Last Saturday, the Demons and Lady Demons claimed a combined eight gold and silver medals at the OU Sooner Challenge while both squads placed third in team scoring. Junior Jasmyn Steels won her second straight long jump title in as many tries, and owns a season-best mark of 20-4 ½ that stands second in Southland Conference rankings.
 
Deja Moore (60 meter dash, 7.52), Natashia Jackson (200, 24.32), and Ceaser Stephens (triple jump, 50-4 ¾) all lead Southland competitors in their events.
 
Heimerman says he continues to see improvement every week and is pleased about the progress with two meets in the books.
 
"I think a lot of the athletes have learned how to compete," said Heimerman. "Everything is part of the process and we learn from everything we do at each meet. That's what they have done so far, and I've been very happy."
 
Following the Pittsburg State Invitational is the first of two trips to LSU. NSU competes at the LSU Bayou Bengal meet on Feb. 1 and the LSU Twilight meet on Feb. 15.