LUBBOCK, Texas—The Northwestern State track and field teams have had strong indoor seasons and now aim to finish off the pre-Southland Conference slate on a high note, as they make a return trip to Lubbock for the Jarvis Scott Invite.

The field events begin at 2 p.m. on Friday and the track events start at 4 p.m. on the campus of Texas Tech.

Both the track and field events begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

Fans can view both days on ESPN+.

"It's a really beautiful facility and we're really looking forward to compete," head coach Mike Heimerman said. "There is going to be some really good competition with many powerhouses, so it is going to be a nice challenge. We'll also see some conference schools we haven't seen yet this year. We look pretty good going into this final meet before conference."

Despite having weather issues during the week leading up to the last meet, each team went out and performed well at the Woo Pig Classic on the campus of the University of Arkansas, led by men's sprinter Keontae Gaines.

Gaines, the reigning SLC Male Track Athlete of the Week, is coming off his best performance of the season at Arkansas.

He clocked a season-best 6.70 to finish second in the finals in the 60-meter dash, which was the best time in the conference this past weekend and it ranks tied for second in the indoor season in the Southland and is tied for 11th in the South Central Region.

Gaines, who was at NSU in 2024 before spending last season at Tennessee, followed that up with a sensational run in the 200, running a 20.90 to take the top spot in the event. He beat out teammate Elijah Rowe, who clocked a 21.18 to place second.
The 200 time is eighth in the South Central Region and second in the Southland.

He is the second athlete to win a conference weekly award during the indoor season for NSU, joining Will Achee.

NSU has four of the top six in the 60-meter dash on the men's side in the SLC so far, as Gaines is tied with Kalen Beavers and just ahead of Koen Beavers (fourth) and Eddy Vu (sixth).

"Coach Adam (Pennington) has assembled a great men's and women's team," Heimerman said. "Keontae stepped away last year to go to a bigger school but then came back because it wasn't for him. He is a special young man who will do a lot of special things this year. I love his energy and he wants to help everybody get better and have fun while doing it."

The Demons have the top two in the men's long jump, led by 2025 outdoor All-American Roy Morris, who is No. 1 with a jump of 24-10.5 with Rowe ranking second at 25-6.25.

On the women's side, newcomer Rushana Dwyer is coming off a meet in which she shattered the school record in the 800-meter run, clocking a 2:11.85 at Arkansas.

Finney is leading the conference in the women's long jump, record a 19-6.25.

Following the meet, the Demons and Lady Demons turn their attention to the SLC Indoor Championships, which start Feb. 25 in Birmingham, Ala.