PITTSBURG, Kan.—Coming off a stellar performance two weeks ago at Texas Tech, the Northwestern State men's and women's track and field teams aim to build off the success when it heads to Kansas for the Wendy's/Pittsburg State Invitational.

The meet begins at 10 a.m. at the Robert W. Plaster Center on the campus of Pittsburg State University and the last event is at 8 p.m.

Long jump is the first event at 10 a.m. with the track events starting at 11 a.m. with the 60-meter dash qualifying race.

Fresh off being ranked No. 26 in the first U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches poll, the Demons aim to continue their strong start to the indoor season.

"The biggest thing is consistency," head coach Mike Heimerman said. "Of course we always want to improve. We want to go there and compete really, really hard and come out as healthy as we were going in or healthier. That is always our main goal."

Two weeks ago, Wulff smashed both his personal best and school record in the 200-meters with a 20.62 time, which ranks second in the NCAA. He also had a nice showing in the 60-meters, running a personal-best 6.72. The effort earned him Southland Conference Player of the Week.

Zachaeus Beard won the qualifying race at the Corky Classic with a 6.54 in the 60-meters. That time is second nationally. Not only is it a school record, but a conference record as well.

"Coach (Adam) Pennington has done a phenomenal job with the sprinters," Heimerman said. "I think they will only get better as time goes on because they will get more confident, especially some of the youngsters."

In the throws, Djimon Gumbs, coming off a Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year honor, tossed a 57-2.75 in the shot put to take the top spot in the event at the Corky Classic. His twin brother, Diamante Gumbs, also placed in the top eight in the shot put.

For the Lady Demons, freshman Sanaria Butler had a good showing in her first collegiate meet. She captured the top spot in the women's 400-meter dash B section with a time of 56.85. She also reached the final in the long jump, where she finished eighth with a jump of 18-5.

"I think we have met with almost every freshman after the first meet," Heimerman said. "I don't care if it is a guy or girl, said they were either nervous or intimidated. I do not know why because we are not doing brain surgery or anything. No one is living or dying if we do well or not so well.

"I think they just needed to go out there and see that they belonged and now that they do, that is where the big marks are going to come. We just want them to stay relaxed and have some fun."

Maygan Shaw, a sophomore from Pineville, had a strong showing to begin the indoor season. She placed fourth in the 200-meters at the Corky Classic with a time of 24.65 and ran a 55.26 in the 400-meters, placing sixth.

In the field, Madison Brown posted a 12-0.75 in the pole vault to begin her junior season.

The Lady Demons have had success in the past in this meet. In 2017, NSU's team of Tamara Style, Natashia Jackson, Daeshon Gordon and De'Shalyn Jones holds the Pittsburg State Invitational 4x400-meter relay record with a time of 3:45.37.

Among the teams competing along with NSU include Tulsa, Abilene Christian, Missouri State, Arkansas Baptist, Texas Wesleyan and host Pittsburg State.

Following the meet, NSU takes a week off before returning to the track Feb. 10 at the Tyson Invitational at the University of Arkansas. It is the final indoor meet before the conference championships, which take place Feb. 26-27.