NATCHITOCHES—Whether they have been at Northwestern State for one season or five seasons, the school and the city have been important in the lives of all of the entire senior class.

The group of more than 30 seniors are competing in their final meet in front of the home crowd at Saturday's Leon Johnson NSU Invitational.

The field events start at 10 a.m. with the women's discus, followed by the men. The track events start at 2:30 with the women's 3000-meter steeplechase.

Athletes from Southern, LeTourneau and Centenary are competing, as well as various unattached athletes.

"Even though it is a smaller meet this year, it will still be a fun meet," head coach Mike Heimerman said. "We'll see some phenomenal athletes, and they will put together some terrific performances—jumps, throws, running. It will be a lot of fun."

The meet is the first one without Leon Johnson, the legendary coach and namesake for this meet, who passed away last June.

It is named after Johnson, the legendary track and field coach of NSU, who led the program for 31 seasons.

"I worked for Leon for 20 years," Heimerman said. "It means a lot to me, both when he was alive and since his passing. He is one of the best coaches here, in any sport. A true legend. The men's track coach of the year award is named after Leon, so that is how much weight he pulled in this conference and this region.

"He was super important to me in my career path, and it holds a special place in my heart."

It is also the first home track and field meet for NSU on the new track with the brand-new lights and scoreboard, which is exciting for both the coaches and athletes.

"It is going to be really good to compete on the new track at this meet," senior sprinter Sileena Farrell said. "Of course, now we are going to be under the new lights and of course the track is done. Since we travel a lot, supporters don't always get to come out and watch us. It's going to be great."

NSU is coming off a strong performance at the Louisiana Classics this past weekend.

"We're just looking for some better marks this meet than last," Heimerman said. "There has been some good training and that is what we're always going to look for. We are working on their technique. The kids have to be better technicians and that is one of things we'll look for."

One of those seniors making her last Leon Johnson NSU Invitational performance is Farrell, who once again had a tremendous showing at the Louisiana Classics, as her time of 11.47 in the 100-meter dash is not only the top mark in the Southland so far during the young outdoor season, but also fourth in the South Central Region and 18th in the nation.

Not only did she win that event, but she was also a part of the 4x100 relay team that won the event with a 44.95, which is 25th nationally.

To no one's surprise, Farrell was one of the three NSU athletes who won a conference weekly award for NSU.

She was joined with weekly honors by Kalen Beavers and La'Darion Dudley, who swept the men's awards.

Farrell is also one of six seniors being honored who have spent their entire career at NSU, a group that includes sprinter Desmond Duncan, who has had an impressive senior season thus far.

Duncan has been one of the more improved athletes during his time in Natchitoches.

That improvement helped him earn two trips to the podium in the indoor conference meet last month. As a part of the 4x400 relay team, he took home a silver, and then as an individual, he claimed the bronze in the 400-meter dash, his first individual medal of his career.

"Overall, I've just stayed consistent," Duncan said. "I feel like in other years, I was pretty complacent about what I really wanted. With this being my last year, I wanted to leave an impression and this year, I have been more consistent."

Farrell, Duncan and the rest of the seniors are being recognized prior to the 4x400 relay, which takes place at 5:45.

Following the home meet, NSU heads back on the road, traveling to Gainesville, Fla., for the Florida Relays, a two-day meet that begins April 3.