LAKE CHARLES—After a successful indoor season that saw the Northwestern State men's and women's teams earn a top two finish in the Southland Conference Indoor Championships, including the women winning its first team indoor title, the squads reset as they begin the outdoor season.

The Demons and Lady Demons head to the McNeese Relays on Saturday top open the outdoor season at the Bill and Lena Henning Track and Field Complex.

The event begins at 9 a.m. with the hammer throw. The running events start at noon, while the last field event begins at 3 p.m.

"We're mostly going to focus on throwers in the first meet," head coach Mike Heimerman said. "We'll focus on a few events we don't throw indoor: the hammer, javelin and discus. We're giving those men and women an opportunity to throw and break the rust off and get their feet wet and get going in those events we haven't done in a competition in a year."

Djimon Gumbs, fresh off a gold medal victory in the shot put in the indoor championships, aims to find his way back to the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Last season, Gumbs reached the outdoor nationals in both the shot put and the discus.

In each event, twin brother Diamante Gumbs captured the silver in the championships.

After injuries have derailed her seasons in recent season, Heimerman is excited to see what Ashley Duffus can do in the outdoor season.

"Ashley is one who didn't compete in indoor who I am looking forward to watching in outdoor," Heimerman said. "She has been hurt the last few years but has had some great practices and I see big things coming from her this year."

Even with the injuries, Duffus never finished lower than sixth in any meet in the women's javelin in 2022, including a second-place finish at the Charles Austin Classic.

Following a tremendous performance in the SLC Indoor Championships, Lynell Washington aims to keep it going in the outdoor season.

Washington won a pair of goals for the SLC indoor champions, capturing gold in both the 60-meters and 200-meters. She also posted a blistering meet-record time of 7.32 in the 60-meters in the prelims.

In last year's SLC Outdoor Championships, Washington excelled as well, earning the gold in both the 100-meters and 200-meters, as well as posting an impressive comeback in the 4x100-meter relay to earn the gold for the Lady Demons.

"She needs to keep doing what she is doing," Heimerman said of his star sprinter. "This year, she has really bought into the training.

"We were talking earlier and said last year she wouldn't have been able to finish Monday's workout, but she was able to this year. She's learning and growing as a young lady and athlete. She has really put in the work."

The women are eager to back the indoor championship up with a strong outdoor season, while the men are aiming to do one better than their second-place finish at the indoor championships.

"The women are hungry for the outdoor season," Heimerman said. "They are hungry to win the outdoor title as well and will do everything in their power to make that happen.

"The men are a little jealous that they didn't win indoor and see all the attention the women are getting, so they are working really hard to come away with the outdoor championship."

Destine-Unique Scott earned a gold in the 400 meters and a silver in the 200 meters last season in the outdoor championships.

In addition to Northwestern State, Dillard, Grambling, Texas Southern will be participating, in addition to the host school McNeese.

Following the meet, NSU heads to Lafayette for the ULL Louisiana Classics, which begins March 17.