BATON ROUGE—On the first day of the outdoor season, many people are just aiming to go out and compete to the best of their ability and see how much they improved from last year to this.

Not only did they do just that, but several posted personal bests in the first outdoor meet at the Lurline Hamilton Invitational on Saturday on the campus of LSU.

Many posted personal bests and that included Maygan Shaw, who ran a personal-best 52.33 in her signature event, the 400-meter dash. She won the event, as Northwestern State had five of the top seven finishers.

"Overall, it was a very good meet," head coach Mike Heimerman said. "I am very happy with today's outcome.

"It was a first time for a lot of people who put the uniform on and it was a beautiful day outside and the athletes took advantage. I'm very pleased with the group and I'm looking forward to the meet next week in Austin and San Marcos. Everyone is excited for this outdoor season, and we are looking forward to it."

Margaret Conteh (54.11) came in right behind Shaw in third and Tranasia Jones (54.85), Samari Finney (54.89) and Jayla Mason (55.31) finished fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively.

Four of those runners—Shaw, Conteh, Finney and Jones—combined to run a 3:36.03 to finish first in the meet.

In the first 4x100 relay of the season, Shaw and Finney joined with Dynia Lewis and Sileena Farrell to run a 45.06.

On the men's side, Galen Loyd continued a sensational season, as he clocked a personal-best 46.94 to finish first out of 17 competitors in the 400, as four Demons finished in the top nine.

William Achee (47.47) placed fourth, Mikkel Johansson (48.29) finished seventh and Elijah Rowe (48.32) came in ninth.

Achee and Loyd also were a part of the men's 4x400 relay team—with Vincente Graiani and Kason Jones—that came in second with a time of 3:11.61.

Tajae Francis. Tavis Wilson, Mikkel Johannson and Elijah Rowe made up the men's 4x100 relay team that clocked a 40.12 to finish first out of the two teams that ran.

Wilson clocked a personal best in the 200-meter dash, clocking a 21.44 to place seventh. Desmond Duncan (21.77) came in 11th.

In the women's 100-meter hurdles, Raven-Symone Jarrett clocked a personal-best 13.93 to finish second. Lewis finished right behind her with a 13.99.

"Maygan was phenomenal," Heimerman said. "She did what she normally does and handled business and there were a lot of good events on the track and Galen ran good splits in the 4x4, Tavis running great 200's out of lane 1. Raven ran a PR in the hurdles with Dynia right behind her."

Silet Gray also posted a personal best, running a 14.42 to come in eighth.

On the women's side in the 200-meter dash, Masin ran a 24.99 in her first collegiate outdoor meet, while Cherine Neal (25.68) ran a personal best to finish 11^th.

Graiani came in second in the men's 600-meter run, where he clocked a 1:18.34.

Evan Wilson ran an outdoor-best with a time of 1:24.90 and Mason Bayne clocked a 1:26.65 on his first collegiate outdoor meet.

Running unattached, Korbin Shumate ran a personal-best 1:23.82.

Leah Thompson (5:11.74) and Lalaina Wood (5:20.27) both clocked personal bests in the women's 1500-meter run, while Chesney Mathews (5:31.80) ran her first outdoor race, as did Owen Rue (4:23.09) and Kaden Elliot (4:34.92) on the men's side.

In the field events, Kalli Knott tied her personal best in the pole vault by clearing 12-11.5 to place second.

Randy Kelly took the win in the men's high jump, clearing 6-10.75.

Neal crushed her previous best mark of 17-6 in the women's long jump by recording an 18-1.5 to place second. Briana Green (17-11.75) and Jarrett (17-9.5) finished third and fourth, respectively.
Jaslyn Smith (38-7.75) finished second in the women's triple jump.

In the throws events, the javelin throwers began their seasons, led by a pair of youngsters.

On the women's side, it was freshman Teodora Samac who led the way, placing first with a toss of 149-11. Ryah Dates (123-07), Mikayla Mondello (117-00) and Emily Miller (108-08), all freshmen, finished fourth, fifth and seventh, respectively.

For the men, it was sophomore Joseph Yount, who smashed his personal best of 176-05 with a toss of 192-00 to finish third.

Freshmen Garrett Graves (187-07) and Maddox Reine (176-07) both also made their debuts to place fifth and eighth, respectively.

"A lot of athletes made their debut," Heimerman said. "Kalli did well in the pole vault and Seth cracked a PR for his first meet since conference. Shakira Kirk breaking the rust for her first meet since regionals.

"The javelin group did amazing. Teodora won the event with her best opener ever. Men's javelin was phenomenal. Joseph had a great PR and Garrett the true freshman put about 26 feet on his previous best. Maddox came out firing and even though it wasn't PR, he did great. Abner did some good things in the shot and discus, so things are looking up for him."

Seth Smith posted a personal-best 162-08 to place fourth in the men's discus, while Abner Johnson (152-06) also posted a personal best to place seventh.

Shakera Kirk (155-07) placed third on the women's side, while Shanice Hutson (149-00) finished fourth and Tahisha Thompson (142-11) came in fifth.

Thompson did post a personal best in the women's hammer, tossing a 159-00 to place fourth, while Bernesha Knowles placed second with a 168-01.

Johnson led the way for the Demons on the men's side with a 160-06 to finish third, while Donovahn Watkins placed fifth with a toss of 156-03.

Hutson won the women's shot put, tossing a 47-1, while Dates (46-7.5) placed right behind her in third. Carnitra Mackey (44-8.75) finished fifth and Shakera Williams (44-0) placed sixth.

On the men's side, Johnson placed third with a throw of 53-6.5 and Justin Craft (52-0.75) finished fifth.

Now Northwestern State heads to the state of Texas prestigious Texas Relays for a four-day event, beginning Wednesday in Austin, as well as heading off to Texas State.