TYLER, Texas – Track and field is a sport best served outdoors.

That's the overwhelming feeling from coaches and student-athletes as Northwestern State prepares to open its outdoor season Saturday at the UT Tyler Icebreaker Classic.

A meet originally planned to give outdoor-only events like the javelin, discus and hammer a chance to compete, NSU coach Mike Heimerman said participants from all events will travel.

"We've had good weather and great training," Heimerman said. "Temperatures in the 60s with a light breeze sure beat the 20s and 30s we were getting throughout indoor.

"We train outdoors every day, and it's much easier for runners to hit their splits on an outdoor track instead of a smaller 200 meter indoor track."
Star athletes also return with the warmer weather as four key NSU scorers will compete in the outdoor season after not having a season of indoor eligibility left.

National champion long jumper Jasmyn Steels, two-time Southland Conference Athlete of the Year Natashia Jackson and All-American high jumper and long jumper LaTyria Jefferson rejoin the squad for the outdoor season.

These three Lady Demons will combine with a women's team that fell just shy (four points) of its first team title in program history. NSU could certainly be the favorite when the SLC Outdoor Championships roll around starting May 14.

"All of these seniors are very experienced, and they've been around the block and know how to handle different situations," Heimerman said. "The women were four points from a conference championship, and it's the (fifth time) we've finished second (all under Heimerman).

"It's a little disappointing, but this team is resilient, and we add three of the most talented girls in the conference back to our team."

Ten different Lady Demons podiumed at the indoor championships led by jumper Lauren-Ashley Clarke, who won the triple jump, took bronze in the high jump and finished eighth in the long jump, her first time to ever compete in the event.

"I knew for sure the night before that I'd be doing the long jump, and I started prepping," Clarke said. "I just knew I had to make the finals.

"The long jump is just running and jumping, whereas the triple jump, you take three steps before you get to the pit. You've got to time your run perfectly for the long jump or you'll scratch. It's great to compete outdoors because it's a whole different atmosphere out here with everybody back."

Senior Diana Granados helped continue NSU's 4x400 relay dominance as the Lady Demons won the event for the fifth straight indoor championships. Granados teamed up with Janiel Moore, Erin Wilson and Alexus Harris to capture gold.

"It feels really good because of all the work we put in in practice, and it shows," said Granados, who barely missed the podium as an individual in the 400. "We've always had good 400 girls, and it's a great legacy to be a part of.

"I ran my first 400 of the season individually at indoors, and I just ran and had fun. (Missing the podium) is definitely a motivator for outdoors because I want better results."

Men's sprinters Kie'Ave Harry and Destine Scott had tremendous indoor championships after Harry grabbed gold in the 60 meters and Scott won the SLC Newcomer of the Year.

Scott took silver in the 200 meters (21.21) and fourth in the 400 meters (47.56) before he ran the anchor leg of the bronze 4x400 relay with Dejon Blake, Ebenezer Aggrey and Kennedy Harrison.

Senior Quindarrius Thompson will rejoin the jumpers after taking silver and bronze in previous SLC championships.

"We've been thin in triple jump because of injuries, and it'll be great to get a podium finisher like Quin back," Heimerman said. "We should have at least three jumpers in the triple, and it'll be nice to have some depth."