NATCHITOCHES – Defend the home turf.

That's the mindset the Northwestern State track and field team took Saturday in the Leon Johnson Invitational, the lone annual home meet at the Walter P. Ledet Track Complex.

NSU won 14 individual events and relays, far outpacing the 10-team field.

"We wanted to go out with a bang, and the goal was for us to come out here and defend our turf, and of course win," said NSU sprinter Natashia Jackson, who was one of 10 seniors honored in their last home meets.

"I didn't want to leave here without telling myself, 'Did I give it 100 percent?' I'm glad I got one more chance with teammates at home. It was comfortable. Today was an execution day. The times will come,  but I was just grateful to be out here."

Jackson was one of five Demons to record multiple event wins.

Speedy snatched wins in the 200 (23.91) and 400 (55.81).

The women's sprints was just an example of NSU's dominance as the Lady Demons produced the top four finishers in the 200. The three other Lady Demons – Jayla Fields (23.95), Diana Granados (24.28( and Robyn Byrd (24.92) all posted personal bests.

Perhaps the most entertaining performance came from sprinter Kie'Ave Harry. The speedster pulled away from 100 field with a blazing 10.16, a personal record and just .03 off the meet and stadium record and .04 off the NSU record.

"It feels good. I've been here three years and I've never been able to run on my own track, and I wanted to show the fans, advisors and staff at the fieldhouse what I can do," said Harry, whose 10:16 time with just a 2.3 wind would rank seventh nationally before Saturday's races. "I didn't really think about the time when I was running, but this is my home track, and I know what fast feels like on this track.

"Every track meet we enter, the home team seems to perform better than other teams. I felt like, 'Wow, I got a chance in my home meet, let me see what I can do."

Harry added a 4x100 relay win with the trio of Kennedy Harrison, Tre'Darius Carr and Destine Scott clocking a 40.98.

Carr locked in a third-place finish in the 100 with a 10.53 while four other Demons recorded personal records (Kavacion Webster, 10.66; Evan Nafe, 10.78; Brandon Letts, 10.80; Nikaoli Williams 10.85).

Harrison captured two individual event wins himself on top of the 4x100 relay, taking the 200 and 400 meters. He clocked a 21.06 in the 200 and a 48.31 in the 400 meters.

Hurdler Janiel Moore captured both the 100 and 400 meter hurdles, including posting a personal record 13.52 in the 100 hurdles. She clocked a 1:00.23 in the 400.

"It felt really comfortable running here, it felt like practice," said Moore, who is participating in her first Leon Johnson Invitational. "It's my fastest time, and it's a great day for me."

Jumper Lauren-Ashley Clarke was the only non-sprinter to win multiple events.

Clarke struggled early in the long jump, but she ripped off a 20-8.5 in her final attempt to run away with the win. Jayla Fields claimed third with a 19-2.5

The Houston native followed with a three-way tie in the high jump, matching teammate LaTyria Jefferson and UL-Lafayette's Kennedy Washington at 5-6.5 jumping into the wind.

A northwest wind prevented a ton of personal bests in the longer sprints because of headwinds for part of the race, but NSU coach Mike Heimerman felt his entire team competed well in front of home fans.

"It was a great day and gorgeous day, especially after the weather was so bad last night," said Heimerman, who started blowing off Friday night's rain before sunrise Saturday. "The kids wanted to come out and show off at home, and I think they did that.

"I think Janiel Moore running a 13.52 in the 100 hurdles was big. And then Harry looked super relaxed in the 100. I was pumped for this whole team today. Usually most of our trips we leave at five in the morning, so when you get to sleep in, it makes a big difference. And not traveling allows you to be fresh, and it makes it nice because the travel grinds on you."

NSU's throwers had standout efforts as well.

Senior Kristin McDuffie claimed the discus with a 156-3 before finishing third in the hammer throw with a personal record 166-6.

"It felt great today, but I think I can do even more," McDuffie said. "It's bittersweet being my last home meet, but you have to move on to bigger and better things."

Brianna Washington took the shot put with a personal record 47-5 after finishing second behind McDuffie in the discus (145-8).

Throwing into a pretty steep headwind, javeliner Ashley Duffus won the event with a personal best 126-4.

Senior Quindarrius Thompson ended his home career with a triple jump win, clearing 50 feet once more (50-5.5).

Pole vaulter Annemarie Broussard was the top collegian with a 12-7.5, finishing behind the new stadium record holder and unattached athlete Morgann Leleux, who vaulted 14-11.

Seven other Demons and Lady Demons posted personal records, bringing the total to 23 overall.

Other personal bests that qualified for the podium included Robyn Byrd (11.75, second in the 100), Jayla Fields (11.87, third in the 100), Portia Harris (2:22.70, third in the 800) and Nikaoli Williams (50 feet, third in the triple jump).

Other podium performances that weren't personal bests included Olivia Sipes taking second in the 800, Isabella Hudson snatching second in the 1500, Granados claiming second in the 400, Markeit Steverson finishing third in the long jump, Xavier Wilson placing third in the 1500, Scott taking third in the 400 and the NSU 'B' 4x100 relay of Webster, Javin Arrington, Daveon Rogers and Austin Simoneaux grabbing third.