LAKE CHARLES—After a difficult cross country season, the final test has arrived.

A young group on both sides for Northwestern State make a third trip to the campus of McNeese this season, as they prepare to compete at the Southland Conference Championships on Friday at the Enos Derbonne Sports Complex.

The women's 6K race begins at 8:30 a.m., while the men's 8K race starts at 9:30 a.m.

The teams have been able to have some people work back from some injuries, as this is only the second meet this month.

"We're really excited," head coach Alex Wills said. "The girls put on a good performance against other teams in our conference in Mississippi, while the guys are competing really well and getting healthy. I think they are going to come out and compete, and we have a good strategy in place. Hopefully we can go out and surprise some people.

Five of the eight on the Demons have already competed at a conference meet, including sophomore Andrew Kent, who is excited to compete at his second conference meet.

"I am definitely not as nervous as I was last year," Kent said. "I know what to expect and I kind of know how the other teams are going to race. I'm just game planning around that and where I need to be. Having a good season so far gives me confidence, and last year's conference race wasn't what I wanted, so I am going in with something to prove, and I can't wait to race fast."

Kent ran a 27:41.9 in last year's meet to finish 89th, placing third among Demons, finishing just ahead of teammate Mason Bayne.

In his first 8K of the season, the sophomore clocked a 27:30.9 at the Watson Collegiate Classic in his last meet on Oct. 16.

His high point to this point this season came in a win at the home meet, the NSU Demon Invitational, on Sept. 11 in the 6K.

In just his second race of the season, freshman Tyler Newland stood out at Mississippi Christian in the last meet, clocking a 27:30.0, the first time this season a Demon outside of Kent was the top Demon in terms of time and place, as he finished 81^st.
While the men return five from last season, the same cannot be said for the Lady Demons, as all seven athletes are making their conference championships debut.

Returning zero athletes from last year, Abby Poche quickly became a leader for the Lady Demons, as she has led the way in every race this season.

After Poche, the other Lady Demons took turns in being the second of them to cross the finish line.

The only one who has finished second among Lady Demons runners more than once was Shelby Burgin, who placed second among the NSU women in the first race—a 6:25.1 in the 3K at the McNeese Season Opener—and the last race—a 25:28.0 in the 6K at the Watson Collegiate Classic.

Each team aims to have the best showing it has had in a while, as the men finished in 11th place and the women in 12^th in 2025.

"We've had a really good season of training," Wills said. "The kids have really bought into the program and the system here. It is a good group of kids, and I was talking to a parent the other day about how the culture has changed with the distance mindset. They don't want to be bottom of the barrel anymore. They want to come out and compete. The kids are feeling fresh and confident and that is a dangerous thing right there."

Following the conference meet, the teams turn their attention to the track and field season, which begins in January.