AUSTIN/SAN MARCOS, Texas—Coming off another strong performance at the Keyth Talley Invitational, the Northwestern State track teams are hitting their stride.

They aim to continue their strong showings when they head to Texas to compete in the Bobcat Relays and the 96^th renewal of the prestigious Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays.

The teams compete in the three-day meets, beginning Thursday and going through Saturday.

Thursday's competition at the Texas Relays begins at 10 a.m. with the decathlon and heptathlon. The field events start at 11 a.m., while the running events start at 4:30 p.m.

The Bobcat Invitational starts at 9 a.m. Thursday with the women's discus. The running events begin at 6 p.m. with the women's 800.

"The Texas Relays give us a big measuring stick about where we are at among some of the best teams in the nation," head coach Mike Heimerman said. "It's a historically very competitive meet and I don't see that changing this year. It's a very high-quality meet."

After a terrific freshman campaign, Sanaria Butler has continued that into her sophomore season. She has broken more records and earned the Southland Conference Indoor Women's Athlete of the Year.

She currently ranks 11^th in the NCAA in the 400-meter dash after running a 52.80 in Baton Rouge in the last meet. Butler also ranks in the top 20 as part of both the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams.

In the 4x100, Butler—along with Lynell Washington, Vanessa Balde and Maygan Shaw—tied the conference record with a time of 44.59 at the Louisiana Classic.

While they didn't tie the conference record in the 4x400 relay, they did run a 3:36.04, which is second in program history and currently ranks 10^th in the NCAA.

Shaw, one of Butler's teammates on the relay teams, has been a consistent force during her three seasons with NSU.

She is coming off a fourth-place finish in the 400-meter dash at the Keyth Talley Invitational, running a 53.89, only behind Butler and two runners from LSU.

The junior is third in the 400 in the SLC and is leading the conference in the 200, running a 23.81, which she clocked at the Louisiana Classic.

In this event, it is Butler who is third in the conference.

While many people think they have a friendly rivalry going, Shaw doesn't think of it like that.

"Everybody thinks we have a friendly rivalry going," she said. "We're just out there having fun and whoever wins, wins. I am glad I have someone pushing me in competitions and practice.

"Practicing together really benefits the both of us, more than it being a competition of who is going to win. That is what everybody wants to think, but I am just out there having fun, and so is she."

In addition to Butler's strong performances on the track, she earned SLC Indoor Field Athlete of the Year as well.

Another strong jumper is Oakland transfer Samari Finney, who has felt right at home, despite being a Michigan native.

"When I came here, everybody welcomed me with open arms," Finney said. "When I was looking for a new school, I wanted to make sure the culture of the team was something I was able to click well with."

It did not take her long to fit right in and feel comfortable, finding the podium in the SLC Indoor Championships, earning a bronze in the long jump.

Finney is grateful to have a former Division I head coach in Lon Badeaux coaching her in the jumps.

"I always want to work on my craft," she said. "Especially when he specializes in what I do and I can trust them, so I won't ever second guess what he tells me to do."

Not to be outdone, the Gumbs twins are each recording a sensational season as well.

Djimon Gumbs reached the NCAA Indoor Championships, while Diamante Gumbs has dominated in the hammer so far.

He smashed his previous best in the hammer throw in Baton Rouge, recording a distance of 193-4, which not only set a personal best and home country of the British Virgin Islands record, but also a program mark.

Diamante Gumbs broke records that lasted a total of one week.

In the meet prior, Gumbs tossed a 185-4 to break a personal record and break the BVI mark prior to breaking the records the next week.

"He is starting to trust himself and his technique," Heimerman said. "It is something he struggled with a bit last year after a really good first year here. This year, he is finally starting to understand some things and trusting the technique and it shows."

Following the grueling meets, the track teams take a week off prior to hosting the Leon Johnson Invitational, beginning April 12.