BOSTON—Throughout his decorated career at Northwestern State, thrower Djimon Gumbs has become one of the most accomplished throwers in program history.

From gold medals to program records to a berth in the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Gumbs has been a standout for the Demons.

Now he can add one more accomplishment to the list: a trip to the NCAA Indoor Championships.

"This feels amazing, knowing making it to indoor nationals was the last thing on my list," Gumbs said. "It is an amazing feeling making history for Coach Mike (Heimerman) as well, for sure."

Gumbs, who reached the championships in the shot put, competes at 1:45 on Saturday. The meet will be televised on ESPN+.

The senior advanced to the NCAA Indoor Championships with his final toss at the Southland Conference Championships, recording a distance of 63-6, to place him in the top 16 nationally.

"It's a huge accomplishment for Djimon," Heimerman said. "Making it to nationals means you are one of the top 16 throwers in all of Division I athletics. That is so huge since there are 1,000 throwers, if not more, in Division I. It is a huge accomplishment for him."

Those top 16 all advance to nationals in Boston. Gumbs is one of two athletes in the shot put to not come from a power school, joining Liberty's Warren Barrett.

"I think making it to nationals was the hardest part and was my goal all along." Gumbs said. "I am competing with some awesome guys, so I am looking to shake it up a little bit. I am looking to shake it up a little bit.

"We've been having good trainings, so hopefully that translates," Gumbs said. "I will be with some awesome guys and I am just going to take it all in and execute like I've been doing the whole time and see what happens."

Georgia's Alexander Kolesnikoff recorded a throw of 67-1.25 to have the top distance so far this season.

Sitting with a 60-7.75 best in the shot put, Gumbs needed to make his move at the conference meet, not only to compete with the collegiate's best in Boston, but also secure the gold medal.

On his fifth throw, he did both, to add to his long list of accolades as a Demon.

Gumbs, a native of Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, competed in the outdoor championships in 2022.

Despite having an impressive history in throwers, Gumbs is the first competitor to reach the indoor nationals under Heimerman.

"I've had a number of athletes make it to the outdoor championships, but Djimon is my first one to make it to indoor," Heimerman said. "That is a special thing. For it to be him, with him breaking all these records, it is special since he has put in so much hard work."

Gumbs gives the Demons an athlete in the NCAA Indoor Championships for the second consecutive year, joining teammate Zachaeus Beard, who earned a 16^th place finish in the 60-meter dash in 2023 and was named Second Team All-American.

His distance is a collegiate best and program record for Gumbs, winning the gold by nearly six feet, which is also the second-best mark in the conference this season.

While the indoor season has finished well, the season has been a bit bumpier than planned.

Gumbs began the season sick and was out for a bit, but he has responded by improving each meet and fighting back to his old self, and he thanks Heimerman for preparing him each meet.

"Reaching nationals because of a throw at the conference championships was the only time I could earn the trip due to me being sick early in the season. I have to give a hats off to Coach Mike, he's an amazing coach.

"He won't take credit, but I have to give credit where credit is due."