LEXINGTON, Kentucky—You might as well call Eugene, Oregon, 'Natchitoches West.'

Zachaeus Beard and Diamante Gumbs, as well as the 4x100 relay team, all earned trips to nationals in Oregon, highlighting a strong day from the men's Northwestern State track and field team Friday on the campus of the University of Kentucky.

Beard is making the trip to Oregon both individually and as part of the relay.

The senior from Fellowship is going in the 100-meter dash, while Gumbs is heading to Eugene in the discus.

"It was an awesome day," head coach Mike Heimerman said. "Diamante started off with a monster throw. Heck, any three of his throws would have made it out. The 4x100 ran in a fast heat and did what they needed to do. It was a fun day at the office. It was stressful but fun. I am looking forward to seeing what the women do tomorrow."

In the 100-meter dash, Beard stared the power conference schools right in the eye and ran toe-to-toe with them, running a wind-legal personal-best 10.04 in the 100 to finish third in his heat, earning an automatic berth to Oregon.

Not only was it third in the heat, it was the third best time overall in the event, out of the 24 competitors, finishing just ahead of Tennessee's T'Mars McCallum.

"I am very excited," Beard said. "Man, it feels like a huge relief off my shoulders. This should be very fun. I can actually win Nationals and that thought gets me turned up."

Out of the top seven finishers, Beard is the only one who doesn't represent an SEC school.

Auburn's Favour Ashe won the 100, clocking a 9.94, which breaks the facility record.

To begin the string of Demons reaching nationals on the track, the men's 4x100 relay team also punched its ticket to the Beaver State with a season-best time of 39.28.

The quartet of Zachaeus Beard, Cyrus Jacobs, Keontae Gaines and Mikkel Johansson defeated its previous best of 39.42 this season. The team finished in fifth of the heat, behind four SEC schools, all of which finished in the top six.

NSU's 4x100 is the school's first relay team to make the outdoor nationals since both the men and women's 4x100 relay teams reached nationals in 2018.

Two years ago, Diamante Gumbs watched as his twin brother Djimon Gumbs made the nationals in two events.

But this time around, it was Diamante who is making the trip to Oregon, tossing a personal-best 195-2 to place third in the discus.

Coming from the second flight, Diamante announced his presence with authority with that massive personal best on his opening throw. All three of his tosses were at least 185-0, which all would have finished in the top 12, earning a spot in Eugene.

Tarajh Hudson placed 26^th in the event, throwing a 175-5, while Djimon (170-8) finished 33^rd.

In the men's high jump, Randy Kelly cleared the first three bars on his first four attempts before falling just short of a personal best, missing on 7-0.25.

He needed just one attempt to clear the first two bars before missing on his first attempt at 6-10.5. But he bounced back by converting on his second attempt to finish tied for 28^th.

To round out the day, Beard fell short in his attempt to reach nationals in three events, as he ran a 20.90 in the 200-meter dash to place 20^th.

To begin the day, Madison Brown cleared 12-11.5 in the women's pole vault, which was re-scheduled from Thursday due to the weather.

She placed tied for 33^rd after clearing the first two jumps before missing on 13-5.25, which would have been a personal best for the senior.

After clearing 12-5.5 on her first attempt, she cleared 12-11.5 on her final attempt on the second height.

The NSU women will take center stage Saturday as they will aim to join their male teammates going to Oregon for nationals. The day starts at noon with the women's discus involving Kaitlyn Washington and Shakera Kirk.