NATCHITOCHES—Another terrific indoor season for the Northwestern State women's track & field team, which means you reap the rewards.

Those rewards were handed out Friday, as Mike Heimerman, Maygan Shaw and Dynia Lewis garnered Southland Conference awards, the league announced.

For the third consecutive season, Heimerman was named SLC Women's Indoor Coach of the Year following the conference indoor title. He received big help from his track stars, namely Shaw and Lewis, who were named SLC Female Track Athlete and Female Co-Newcomer of the Year, respectively.

Heimerman led the team to a third straight indoor conference championship, something that hadn't been accomplished in nearly a decade.

The women took home three gold medals at the SLC meet: Madison Brown, the 4x400 relay and Shaw.

Not only did Shaw dominate individually, but she was also a member of that 4x400 relay team. At the SLC meet, Shaw broke an SLC indoor meet record in the 400-meter dash, running a 52.97, finishing more than a second ahead of second place in the 400.

She also was a member of the 4x400 relay, which clinched the conference championship after winning the gold, overtaking Lamar for the championship.

Even prior to the indoor meet, Shaw broke records seemingly every meet. In the 400 at the Tyson Invitational, she broke the school record by clocking a 52.90.

She also broke the conference record on multiple occasions as a member of the 4x400 relay team.

Dynia Lewis earned the co-newcomer of the year after finishing on the podium in the 60-meter hurdles and nearly doing so in the 60-meter dash.

Lewis ran a personal-best 8.41 in the 60-meter hurdles to finish with the silver to begin her afternoon before following that up with a 7.55 in the 60, which tied a personal best and she narrowly missed the podium, placing fourth, finishing just behind teammate Sileena Farrell.

She also clocked a 24.82 to place 14th in the 200-meter dash as well.

Overall, four athletes earned first team accolades. Shaw and Brown each were on the first team, as well as both the men's and women's 4x400 relays, after all claiming gold medals at the conference championships.

Seven athletes took home second team all-conference accolades on Northwestern State, including five women.

Shaw (200) and Lewis (60 hurdles) placed on the second team from the Northwestern State superlative award winners.

Both Margaret Conteh (400) and Peyten Ware (pole vault) took home second team honors, only behind Shaw and Brown, respectively, in their events.

Ryan Dates also earned second team all-conference honors and was just one throw away from taking home first team accolades.

On the men's side, both William Achee (400) and Elijah Rowe (long jump) were named to the second team, and Achee came from behind to earn the gold in the 4x400 relay.

Farrell (60) and Shakera Williams (shot put) were on the third team among the women and Roy Morris (long jump) came in third on the men's side.

Northwestern State begins the outdoor season with a trip to Baton Rouge for the Lurline Hamilton Invitational on March 22, the first of seven scheduled outdoor meets prior to the Southland Conference Outdoor Championships.
 
Men's Indoor Track & Field Superlatives
Men's Athlete of the Year - Kyle Sieracki, UIW
Men's Coach of the Year - Robert Hansen, SFA
Men's Outstanding Field Athlete of the Year - Kyle Sieracki, UIW
Men's Outstanding Running Athlete of the Year - Ibrahim Fuseini, East Texas A&M
 
Women's Indoor Track & Field Superlatives
Women's Athlete of the Year - Kayli Johnson, Lamar
Women's Coach of the Year - Mike Heimerman, Northwestern State
Women's Outstanding Field Athlete of the Year - Kayli Johnson, Lamar
Women's Outstanding Running Athlete of the Year - Maygan Shaw, Northwestern State