LUBBOCK, Texas – Two weeks ago, the Northwestern State track and field teams enjoyed a stellar performance inside Texas Tech's Sports Performance Center.
 
The Demons and Lady Demons enjoyed it so much they won't change too many details as they prepare for their second two-day meet in West Texas in three weeks when they open competition in the Texas Tech Shootout on Friday.
 
"We're going to mimic the trip we made two weeks ago," head coach Mike Heimerman said. "Same stops. Basically, the same hotel. The same meet schedule. It's almost the same thing, so hopefully we go out there and have some of the same performances. The kids should know how everything works and what to expect out there. It's not the same schools, but it's still good competition. I think they'll handle it very well."
 
Among the field are Big 12 teams Texas Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, Purdue, SMU, BYU, UNLV and NSU's fellow Southland Conference member, Incarnate Word.
 
Friday's competition begins at 3 p.m. with Section A of the women's weight throw. Running events start at 5 p.m. with the women's 60-meter preliminaries. ESPN+ will broadcast parts of each day of competition.
 
NSU's most recent trip to Lubbock produced two indoor school records – Simon Wulff's 21.06 in the men's 200 meters and Lynell Washington's 7.41 in the women's 60 meters.
 
In addition to those, numerous NSU competitors enjoyed either personal or season bests during the Texas Tech Open & Multis meet.
 
This weekend's meet marks the first time in two weeks that NSU will send a full squad to a meet. A week ago, two NSU sprinters – Tre'Darius Carr and Claudasha Watson -- made their season debuts at the LSU Bayou Bengal.
 
In addition to Watson, Aarika Lister reached the second round of the women's 60 in her best performance of the season after dealing with injuries for much of the past year.
 
"We had a few young ladies transfer in, and they didn't get a typical fall training with a group," Heimerman said. "It's hard to train on your own. Claudasha's going to be a great one for us. She already surpassed the time we expected. As much as we don't want to put ceilings on anybody, when they go past our expectations, that's never a bad thing.
 
"Aarika's just now getting back to form. She's fixed some of it, now she has to get her confidence back. She's been injured, which has affected her technique. (Associate head) Coach (Adam) Pennington is fixing her back up. She's just now starting to enjoy some things as she's running pain free."
 
While most of the Demons and Lady Demons have made one trip to Lubbock this season, a pair of NSU throwers were unable to compete two weeks ago.
 
Twins Djimon and Diamante Gumbs missed the Texas Tech Open & Multis because of health and safety protocols.
 
Djimon Gumbs is the top shot putter in the Southland Conference and ranks 34th nationally with an indoor school-record mark of 61-1.25 in his most recent competition, the Texas A&M Aggie Invitational on Jan. 28. Diamante Gumbs, meanwhile, stands second in the conference in the weight throw with a mark of 56-8 he posted at the Texas A&M Ted Nelson Invitational on Jan. 15.
 
"Those guys are just competitors," Heimerman said. "They bring energy to whatever they're doing. They've had some great practices, so I'm looking forward to them really being challenged. DJ (Djimon), we were looking forward to seeing what he would have done against the field (in the Texas Tech Open). He'll go out there and have some fun, and hopefully everyone else follows."