Northwestern State University of Louisiana’s indoor track and field teams came out on top in several events at the 2025 Indoor Southland Conference Track and Field Championships at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Alabama.
The highlight of the meet on the women’s side was the 4×400-meter relay. Senior Maygan Shaw, senior Tranasia Jones, junior Samari Finney and junior Margaret Conteh claimed NSU’s third indoor title by running a 3:42.77 minute race.
Relay members Shaw also claimed gold with a time of 52.97 seconds, claiming a SLC meet record, and Conteh claimed silver with a time of 54.04 seconds in the 400-meter dash. Following behind the two, Jones finished sixth with a time of 56.05 seconds, Finney finished seventh with a time of 56.21 seconds and senior Kahliyah Anderson finished eighth with a time of 56.55 seconds.
Junior Sileena Farrell earned bronze in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.42 seconds.
Dynia Lewis, junior general studies major, also earned silver in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.41 seconds and placed fourth in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.55 seconds. Lewis was named SLC Female Co-Newcomer of the Year after her performance.
“I’m not gonna lie, I was surprised. I didn’t know they give out awards at conferences. So when Coach came to me, I was already, like, kind of in the stands, like, ‘oh my gosh, I got a second place medal.’ He said, ‘I didn’t get a medal in the sixties.’ Then he said, ‘you’re gonna get a trophy.’ I said, ‘I’m getting a trophy.’ I was happy. Like, at least I’m leaving with something, not just only a silver medal, I get a trophy and a medal,” Lewis said.
In the women’s 60-meter hurdles, senior Raven-Symone Jarrett placed fifth with a time of 8.69 seconds and graduate student Madison Brown placed seventh with a time of 8.86 seconds.
While Brown only earned her personal best in the 60-meter hurdles, the sports administration major also won the women’s pole vault with a height of 13-1.5 feet.
“So, I really wanted to jump 13 feet all year. So after winning, after my first jump and knowing that I won, I knew that I could just have fun and, like, enjoy the last few jumps I’d be taking because I only had an indoor season,” Brown said. “So, clearing those next bars and jumping 13 feet, and when it was, I mean, I was just on a high and very happy. My teammate got second, and that was awesome, too. I think I was more excited for her than I was for me.”
Junior Peyten Ware finished right behind Brow with a height of 11-9.75 feet to earn silver.
Three Lady Demons finished in the top five in women’s shot put. Freshman Ryah Dates earned silver with a throw of 49-2.25 feet, senior Shakera Williams earned bronze with a throw of 46-2.75 feet and senior Carnitra Mackety placed fifth with a throw of 45-9.
The Demons also highlighted the meet by earning gold in the 4×400-meter relay. Freshman William Achee, sophomore Vincente Graiani, junior Kason Jones and senior Galen Loyd claimed the podium with a time of 3:10.78 minutes.
Achee earned silver with a time of 47.36 seconds and Grainai placed seventh with a time of 48.03 seconds in the 400-meter dash.
Tavis Wilson, senior liberal arts major, placed fifth in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.80 seconds. Following behind Wilson, junior Tajae Francis placed seventh with a time of 6.87 seconds.
“For the 60-meter, going into prelim, man, I just felt like I was untouchable, nobody messing with me. That first race felt great, felt amazing, nothing I can really say else about that,” Wilson said.
Senior John Klein placed 29th in the 3000-meter run with a time of 8:42.08 minutes.
Senior Abner Johnson finished eighth in with a throw of 51-9.25 feet, senior Tarajh Hudson finished 10th with a throw of 49-11 feet, junior Justin Craft finished 49-0.75 feet with a throw of 49-0.75 feet and junior Donovahn Wakins finished 16th with a throw of 46-5.5 feet in the men’s shot put.
Freshman Bruce Boon placed fifth with a score of 5092 in the men’s pentathlon.
The women’s team claimed the championships by earning 118 points, while the men’s team finished in seventh place by earning 56 points.
NSU’s outdoor track and field season will begin on Saturday, March 22 at Louisiana State University’s Lurline Hamilton Invitation in Baton Rouge.
