SAN MARCOS, Texas – Once Saturday's rain cleared, Northwestern State sprinters demonstrated late-season form at the Texas State Bobcat Classic on Sunday.

Senior Natashia Jackson led the way as she posted two of 10 individual personal records as NSU sprinters outperformed the host Bobcats along with a few Southland Conference members and South Dakota State.

"It was a beautiful day today, and the weather was hot enough to run some good times even with swirling winds," said NSU associate head track coach Adam Pennington. "This is definitely something we needed, and it was important to get this last (regular season) meet in before Southland Conference Championships in two weeks.

"Now we can get the kids a break next week. There were some Southland schools here ranked ahead of us in some things, and we beat almost all of them head up in those events. That really boosts our confidence."

Jackson won the 100 and 200 meters with personal bests, clocking an 11.70 and 23.52. The 200 time ranks second in NSU history and the 100 mark ranks sixth.

Jackson's 200 time ranks 32^nd in the NCAA East Preliminaries, which is solidly in the postseason after the NCAA expanded its format back to the usual 48.

In the 200, Diana Granados (23.97, 6th) and Robyn Byrd (24.29, 9th) posted personal records while Jayla Fields (seventh) finished with a 24.04.
Fields bolstered the 100 with a ninth-place showing (12.07).

Jackson also ran a leg of the winning 4x100 relay, which posted a 45.52, less than 0.3 off a season best, despite not having two sprinters from its 'A' team.

The quartet of Byrd, Granados, Jackson and Fields took the victory even though sprinters Lynell Washington and Aarika Lister weren't running.

"Speedy (Jackson) had a good day, solidifying her (NCAA East) spot in the 200 and competing well in a good 100 field," Pennington said. "Our 4x1 (women) ran well even though it was Diana's first time to run it.

"Robyn Byrd had a big day, and that will boost her confidence going forward.

The men, who also were missing two Team 'A' sprinters, took third with a 40.45, about 0.6 off its season best. The foursome of Tre'Darius Carr, Kavacion Webster, Kennedy Harrison and Destine Scott.
Javin Arrington and Kie'Ave Harry were on the season-best relay this season.
 
The women's 4x400 relay also added a win as Jackson, Fields, Erin Wilson and Granados clocked a 3:40.90, about two seconds off the season-best pace without one normal relay partner (Janiel Moore).
 
The Demons flexed their muscle most in the short sprints, particularly the 100 meters. NSU placed four of the top nine sprinters and had eight of the top 15.
 
Harrison led the pack with a second-place finish (10.61). Kavacion Webster (10.67) won his heat and finished fourth, Javin Arrington took sixth (10.71) and Brandon Letts finished ninth.
 
Ray Anikwue clocked a personal best at 10.97 to finish 15^th.
 
Harrison also took second in the 200 meters with a 20.87, which is his fastest wind-legal time. Entering Sunday, the 20.87 ranks Harrison 35^th in the East Preliminary, putting him squarely in a qualifying spot.
 
Daveon Rogers checked in at ninth (21.79) while Javin Arrington (21.82, 10^th) and Austin Simoneaux (21.96, 16^th) each clocked personal bests. Aggrey (14^th, 21.88) and Nafe (15^th, 21.95) also finished in the top 15.
 
"Kennedy secured his 200 spot (in the NCAA East) today, and he looked really good even though he battling a hamstring," Pennington said. "He came out of the blocks super, super passive, but he got on the gas on the straight away.
 
"It feels really good to come out of today with two or three qualifiers."
 
Three other Demons and Lady Demons set personal records Sunday.
 
Janiel Moore, a hurdles specialist, posted a 55.50 in the 400 meters to place second. Erin Wilson finished seventh with a 57.32.
 
Dejon Blake won his 400 meters heat with a personal best 48.89 to place seventh overall.

Aliyah Carswell also won her 100 meter hurdles heat with a personal record 14.61 to finish eighth.