NATCHITOCHES –  It's not often that a Southland Conference track and field championship event feels a bit like a warmup, but that was a definite vibe while two of the NCAA's four best female long jumpers were competing Friday at Northwestern State's Walter P. Ledet Track Complex.

Soft rain didn't dampen the luster of a sensational matchup between 2018 Outdoor and 2019 Indoor Southland Conference champion Sarea "Shay" Alexander of Incarnate Word and 2019 NCAA Indoor winner Jasmyn Steels.

It was the undeniable showcase event as the three-day 2019 Southland Conference Outdoors began, and as soon as it ended, the prospect of their next meeting was a prime topic. That should come at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in early June in Austin, Texas.

Friday, Alexander collected her third straight Southland gold in the long jump, posting a 21-4 ¾ mark that surpassed Steels' 21-0 ½ best. It was the same order of finish they had in February at the Southland Indoors. When Alexander won at the 2018 Southland Outdoors, Steels made her arrival on the scene with a bronze medal.

But when they both reached the national championships with top 10 rankings in February, Steels avenged her only indoor loss (to Alexander at the conference meet) by soaring to the NCAA Indoor crown.

So each craves what the other has. And both like to joke with the other one about that.

"Isn't it weird how that's worked out?" said the Lady Demon junior, grinning while her friendly rival stood nearby. "Her indoors (Southland gold), she can have it. I got her for nationals."
Retorted a smiling Alexander: "She can have this (Friday's) conference gold. I'm trying to get where she's been. Being my senior year, it would be nice to come out the ultimate champion. I'll be seeing her in Austin."

After Friday's duel, the next long jump action comes in three weeks at the NCAA Preliminary Rounds. While they're in the same conference, Alexander and other UIW qualifiers will go to the West Region, while Steels and the rest of NSU's qualifiers head to the East Region. The top 12 finishers in each region advance to the national meet in Austin June 5-8.
"I hope to meet her, and I hope to beat her," said Alexander, whose San Antonio-based institution is about an hour's drive from Austin.

"We're both familiar with the place," said Steels, whose College Station home is 90 minutes away from Texas's capitol city. "We've both been competing there (at the site of the annual Texas Relays), and it will be a fight for the win again. We're both ready."

That was apparent with their marks Friday in less than optimal conditions. Alexander's winning distance didn't quite measure up to her season-best 21-8 that is second nationally, but it was good enough to rank fifth in the NCAA. Steels' 20-0 ½ was slightly more than four inches behind her 2019 outdoor mark (21-4 ¾) that is fourth in the country, but it would have ranked 15^th in the NCAA standings.

They thrived on the showcase, which couldn't accurately be described as a showdown.
 
 
"It was a good competition. I was having a really fun time," said Steels. "Not that I've been stressed, but I've been ready to jump for a long time, so it was good, especially at home."
"I thought it was fun," agreed Alexander. "I kind of enjoy jumping in the rain, because it makes me feel free. Although it wasn't a beautiful day, everybody came out and gave their best, and even though the marks weren't what we wanted because of the weather, the competition was good."

They relish the chance to share the runway, especially on the Southland stage.

"I don't think it bothers either of us. We both know what we're both capable of, so we don't worry about each other," Steels said. "We just go out and compete. I don't want to say we're equal, but we both have the potential to be the best, which is proven."

Alexander, who is also among the nation's best triple jumpers and will compete in that event Saturday at 5, took note of Steels earlier than last spring's Southland Outdoors.

"Coming off my redshirt season was when I first noticed Jasmyn, and from the first day I competed against her, I knew she would be special," she said. "We always joke around with each other, that we have that little friendly competitive relationship.

"I'm glad I have that, because otherwise, I'd be the standard (her winning mark was over two feet past the third-place distance Friday). Whoever we are competing against, we always have our own fun and I think it brings out our best."

They didn't disappoint Friday.