FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.—The Northwestern State track and field teams are halfway through their pre-Southland Conference indoor schedule, and both teams have started the season strong.

Both the Demons and Lady Demons continue their indoor season with a trip to the University of Arkansas for the Woo Pig Classic on Saturday.

The events begin at 11 a.m. with the women's long jump and men's weight throw before the running events begin at noon with the women's 60-meter hurdles.

The meet is being streamed on SEC Network+.

It is the third of the four indoor track meets prior to the SLC Championships.

NSU is one of 13 teams competing at the meet, which includes Notre Dame, Pittsburg State, fellow Southland member Houston Christian and host school Arkansas.

"What we have to do in this meet is get some work on the 200-meter banked track," head coach Mike Heimerman said. "We only get to run on those types of tracks four times and one of those times is at conference. Not having one to practice on, we have to get to those as many times as possible."

In the last meet at Pittsburg State, Roy Morris continued a strong start to his sophomore campaign after his All-American outdoor season in 2025.

At Pittsburg State, he posted a jump of 24-10.5 in the long jump, which not only won him the event at the meet, but also is the top distance in the SLC.

Ranking second in the Southland, right behind Morris, is teammate Elijah Rowe, who recorded a jump of 24-6.25 at Pittsburg State.

In the South Central Region, Morris ranks fifth, while Rowe is tied for seventh. Morris ranks only behind four members of the SEC.

On the women's side, Samari Finney had a strong performance, also in the long jump. She recorded a jump of 19-6.25 to finish third in the meet and her jump also ranks first in the Southland.

Her jump also ranks 10^th in the South Central Region.

"The long jump group has performed very well," Heimerman said. "That was the first jumps meet for Elijah and Samari and did well. They both have a lot left as they are both primarily sprinters who jump, so they don't get a ton of practice at the jumps, so what those two can do like that, it is just a testament to how talented they are."

On the track, Keontae' Gaines made his return to NSU after spending a season at Tennessee and ran a 6.72 in the 60-meter dash to rank tied for third, tied with two others, including Koen Beavers.

In the throws, Demons Donroy Brown (55-7) and Abner Johnson (54-11.25) are ranked second and third in the conference in the men's shot put, the latter of which occurred at Pittsburg State.

Johnson also ranks third in the men's weight throw, with a toss of 59-0.75, and Ryah Dates is third in the shot put on the women's side with a throw of 48-5.25.

Following the trip to Arkansas, NSU has one more meet prior to the conference championships in Birmingham, Ala., a trip back to Texas Tech for the Jarvis Scott Invite on Feb. 13-14. The indoor conference championships take place Feb. 25-26.