NATCHITOCHES –  Northwestern State Lady Demons junior sprint star Natashia "Speedy" Jackson is ready to come back shining in the 2019 Southland Outdoor Championships at home this weekend after dominating in the 2018 Championships.
 
 Jackson holds the top conference ranking in the 400 meters (53.69), runs legs on NSU relays in the 4x100 (second in 45.49) and 4x400 (third in 3:43.10), and stands sixth in the 200 meters (23.94). She's the defending Southland Outdoors 400 champ (53.63) and ran on the winning 4x100 and 4x400 teams last May.
 
 During her career at NSU, Jackson has made a place for himself four times on the Lady Demon Career Top 5 list. She's won gold at the Southland Indoor Championships twice, Southland Outdoor Championships three times and has competed at the NCAA East Preliminaries twice.
 
 The Houston native, a product of DeKaney High School, has a gaudy total of 15 podium appearances (finishes in the top three) at Southland indoor and outdoor meets.
 
 She was voted the 2019 Southland Indoors Women's Outstanding Running Events Performer after scoring 24 points with a 200 win (24.02) and anchoring the gold medal 4x400 team (3:43.60) while claiming third in the 60 meter dash (7.54) and the 400 (54.89). Jackson's scoring total made her the women's Most Valuable Performer as the high point scorer for the second straight year at the Southland Indoors.
 
 Even though she's a decorated Southland athlete, there are no guarantees going into this weekend's championships. She runs in prelims Saturday in the 200 and 400, expecting to advance to finals in those events Sunday, along with the relay finals in the meet hosted by NSU at the Walter P. Ledet Track Complex.
 
 "It's going to be a battle," Jackson said. "A lot of (her competitors) have personal records with amazing times coming back harder than last year. It's going to be a tight finish for that championship."
 
 She's reached the NCAA East Preliminary Round in individual and relay events, and competed in her first NCAA Outdoor Championships last June, earning honorable mention All-America recognition after the team finished 22^nd nationally. Her next goal is to be a contender to reach the NCAA Outdoors this June in nearby Austin, Texas, in one of her individual events, a goal she has a shot at achieving.
 
 "My training is very different this year," Jackson said. "I've opened up way faster and been very consistent. Hopefully that'll manage to get me a better spot for regionals and a chance to compete my best at nationals."

With every meet for Jackson comes the presence of her 4x100 relay teammate Daeshon Gordon, who passed away in October. While it's been rough for Jackson and the Lady Demons, Gordon has impacted the team and shaped them into who they are today.
 
 "She's always on my mind, and I feel her every time I compete," Jackson said. "I know she's right there saying 'Hey, keep going.'"