BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The last time Lynell Washington coiled herself into the blocks at the Birmingham CrossPlex, she broke Northwestern State's program record in the 60 meters en route to a bronze medal as a freshman.
 
Never mind that she raced in just two collegiate meets to that point.
 
Never mind that the New Orleans product didn't use blocks as a sprinter in high school, winning Louisiana's Class 5A crown in the 100 meters anyway.
 
Never mind that Washington has battled various injuries during her short collegiate career.
 
Washington will lead a talented sprints group into the 2021 Southland Conference Indoor Championships, which start Sunday with the final events Monday. Fans can find live results and a live video feed on the SLC's Championship Central page. Sunday's events start with 5000 meters at noon and field events beginning at 1:30 p.m.
 
"I knew coming in that college (track) would be hard, and I knew I'd be behind," said Washington, who has ran track since she was three but was primarily a basketball player in high school. "I knew I'd be behind, but I knew I could learn quickly.
 
"It was difficult at first, but I knew I couldn't get frustrated. I was just a freshman last year, and I'm still working on things like getting out of the blocks. It takes time."
 
She's the healthiest she's been in her NSU tenure, and she'll aim to help the women compete for a conference title while hoping to shave time off her program record 7.44 in the prelims this past season.
 
Washington clocked a 7.50 in an indoor season shortened by the COVID-19 after the 2020 outdoor campaign was wiped out completely. That time leads the SLC and ranks 66^th in the nation this season.
 
"Lynell is a special talent, and she still doesn't know how special she is," said NSU track coach Mike Heimerman, who has led the women to top three finishes in the last eight SLC indoor and outdoor championships combined. "(Associate head coach) Adam Pennington discovered her and helped develop her, and we saw how special she is after running those times with just a few meets under her belt.
 
"It's exciting because she is low key and happy-go-lucky, but she goes to work despite battling injuries. She's so talented and she's still learning."
 
Teammate Aarika Lister is second in the league in the 60 meters with a 7.57 as the Lady Demons anticipate the bulk of their points to come from sprints and jumps.
 
"For both the men and the women, we're going to have to perform at the level we have to get here and we'll need some kids to outperform their marks to score," Heimerman said. "We need to have more people step up than mess up, and that's always been our thing.
 
"We've gotten better at that over the years, and it'll come in to play with just two regular season meets and missing a week of practice because of the ice."
 
Fans can find live results and a live video feed on the SLC's Championship Central page. Sunday's events start with 5000 meters at noon and field events beginning at 1:30 p.m.
 
The men also own the 60 meters as three Demons top the SLC charts this season.
 
Kie'Ave Harry leads the pack with a 6.74, sitting 47^th nationally.
 
Reigning SLC Runner of the Week Brandon Letts won the most recent meet at LSU and holds a 6.82, while Tre'Darius Carr is tied for second with Letts in the SLC at 6.82.
 
"It's been an amazing time, and we've all been competitive and pushing each other, and that shows in our times being the top three in the conference," Letts said. "(Pennington) has us as a cohesive group, and we've come together as a team.
 
"Outdoors last year was taken from us, and we have this indoor opportunity right in front of us, so we want to take advantage of it."
 
The men's squad, which finished seventh in the 2020 SLC Indoors, were challenged after a down championship campaign.
 
"We called them out last year – they weren't focused," Heimerman said. "They took some notes from the women, and they have been more focused.
 
"Everybody is capable on both sides, and one of the best things there aren't hardly any seniors in any gender. This is a fun group that's done whatever we asked of them, and that's all us coaches can ask."
 
The men have three 200 meter runners ranked in the top eight along with two 400 meter runners. Destine Scott leads NSU in both, ranking fourth each event.
 
That sprinter strength carries over into the 4x400 relay with Scott, Aggrey, Dejon Blake and Kennedy Harrison, which enters second in the SLC.
 
Reigning indoor long jump champion Markeit Steverson sits in third with a 22-9 this season.
 
The Demons can pick up points in the mile with seventh and ninth-place runners led by senior Yannik Gerland.
 
Pole vaulter Hayden Barrios broke NSU's indoor record in just his first season with a 16-1.25, which ranks seventh in the SLC this season.
 
On the women's side, the short sprints will also be a key component as the Lady Demons boast two of the top three 200 meters runners (Lister and Jayla Fields) with Washington running the event for her first time in college.
 
Two Lady Demons are expected to score in the 800 meters, including freshman Alexus Harris.
 
Janiel Moore is the favorite in the 60 hurdles with a time of 8.66.
 
Senior Diana Granados is part of a second-ranked 4x400 relay squad that includes Harris, Moore and Erin Wilson.
 
NSU has massive potential in the pole vault with three vaulters in the top five, including two tied for second in newcomer Parish Kitto and Outdoor All-American Reagan Darbonne at 12-4.
 
Lauren-Ashley Clarke sits in the top three in two events, second in the triple jump and third in the high jump, the latter of which she ranks 78^th nationally.
 
Senior Kristin McDuffie is a threat at the weight throw title, entering in second place with a 56-6.
 
Olivia Sipes could wrangle some middle distance points, ranking fourth in the 800 meters.
 
Because of the pandemic, the NCAA has cut its indoor field to 16 performers (from 24) to make nationals.
 
But the Birmingham track is fast, and Heimerman said multiple NSU participants have a shot to qualify.
 
"The right things have to click, but we do have some sprinters and somebody like a Clarke who could do it," Heimerman said. "Clarke has missed the first 10-12 days of training because of COVID-19 contact tracing, but she's been on fire the past few weeks.
 
"We have sprinters that could make a splash and make it on that stage. It'll all come down to the start for these 60 meters folks."