AUSTIN/SAN MARCOS, Texas—Throughout the early part of the 2024 outdoor season, the Northwestern State relay teams have been among the best in the country.

That continued Friday, as the NSU women's 4x400 relay team broke the school record by running a 3:35.50 on the second day of the Texas Relays.

Earlier in the season at the Louisiana Classic, the women's 4x100 relay team broke the school record and tied the Southland Conference record with a 44.59. While the 4x400 relay team did not tie the conference record, it does place third and is the best time since 2019.

That time was only second to SEC power Arkansas.

"Our women's 4x4 was phenomenal," associate head coach Adam Pennington said. "We can definitely run faster, but it was an extremely windy day which made the 4x4s really hard to run. But to see them beat up on power 5 teams and compete at a high level, I couldn't be happier for them as a group.

On the men's side, the quartet of Cyrus Jacobs, Mikkel Johansson, Desmond Duncan and Jaysaun Smith ran a 3:14.59.

Early in the day, the men's 4x100 team of Jacobs, Johansson, Keontae Gaines and Zachaeus Beard ran a 40.91.

Also, in the sprints in Austin, Vanessa Balde ran a 13.44 to finish 14^th out of 40 in the women's 100-meter hurdles. Jessica Pitcher ran a season-best 14.88.

"It was another great day," head coach Mike Heimerman said. "We had a lot of solid events in addition to the 4x4. Randy (Kelly), Ianna (Roach), Tarajh (Hudson), Jaslyn (Smith) and then the 200's at Texas State were all fire. Some of the things didn't go quite as planned at the Texas Relays and that happens.

"We will make adjustments and move on. Overall, I am very pleased with the last two long days and we will finish off with a great third day tomorrow."

On the men's side, Taj Morris also posted a season best, clocking a 14.34 in the 110-meter hurdles.

Lynell Washington posted a season best in the women's 100-meter dash, running an 11.49. Victoria Byrd clocked an 11.79 and Sileena Farrell ran a 12.68.

Beard and Gaines have been huge parts to the 4x100 relay team, so it is not surprising they tied in the men's 100-meter dash, as they both clocked a 10.28. In a different 100-meter race, Tavis Wilson wasn't too far behind them with a time of 10.45.

In the throws, Ianna Roach tossed a season-best 47-5 in the women's shot put to place fifth. On the men's side, Diamante Gumbs threw a season-best 53.2.25 in the shot put.

In the jumps. Andrew Gilreath recorded a 23-10 to place 12^th in the long jump.

NSU's day at the Texas Relays started with the men's discus, where Tarajh Hudson recorded a 172-7 to finish fifth out of 13 participants.

Less than an hour away from the Texas Relays, NSU also took part in the Bobcat Invitational, where a pair of jumpers registered season or personal bests.

Randy Kelly started the day for the Demons by tying a season best in the high jump by clearing 6-11, finishing second of 23 competitors.

Jaslyn Smith recorded a personal best in the women's long jump by posting a 19-6.75, finishing tied for sixth out of 20.

In the sprints at Texas State, three NSU athletes finished in the top nine in the women's 200-meter dash, all of whom either set a personal or season best.

That list was led by Balde, who ran a personal-best 23.68 to finish sixth. Shaw did not finish far behind her with a season-best 23.69 to place eighth. Butler came in ninth with a season-best time of 23.71.

Washington finished 20^th in the 200, running a 24.05.

Gaines (20.57), Beard (20.90) and Johansson (21.05) all ran personal bests in the men's 200-meters, all placing in the top 12. Gaines led the way in fourth.

"The 200 group has been up since 6:30 a.m. and it's been a long day," Pennington said. "I was really impressed to see those times at 8:00 p.m.

"Keontae was great. It was a huge PR for him and Zach. Any time you run a top-20 time in the NCAA a few meets in the season, you're on the right track. Zach has proven he can run the 60/100 so to see him run sub-20 with a legal wind gives him a lot of confidence."

Robert Norton ran a season-best 55.55 to finish 20^th out of 43.

In the throws, Tahisha Thompson tossed a 135-08 in the women's hammer throw.

The teams are back in action Saturday for the final day of the Texas Relays and Bobcat Invitational, as NSU starts at 10 a.m. in both meets.