The Northwestern State University of Louisiana men’s and women’s track and field teams are preparing to open their 2026 season as student-athletes and coaches return to competition with a championship mindset.
Mike Heimerman, now in his 13th season as the program’s overall head coach and his 27th year on staff, said that the team is entering the season motivated and eager to compete.
“We have a nice mix of veterans and young athletes, probably more veterans than we’ve had in a long time,” Heimerman said. “The mindset is the same. They are hungry, and they are ready to go out and execute.”
The Demons officially began their track and field season at the Corky Classic on Jan. 16 in Lubbock, Texas, just two weeks after returning to campus following winter break. Heimerman acknowledged that the short preparation window adds nerves and uncertainty to the season opener.
In the women’s 4×400-meter relay finals, Margaret Conteh, Kahliyah Anderson, Layden Jack and Rushana Dwyer earned third place with a time of 3:36.98. A second NSU relay team consisting of Silet Gray, Jayla Mason, Thea Ring and Dhakiya Blake finished 17th in 3:51.02.
In the women’s sprints, Sileena Farrell placed 24th in the 60-meter semifinals. In the 200-meter finals, Dynia Lewis placed 22nd, followed by Maria Umoibang in 28th, Juvonna Cornette in 31st, Anderson in 37th, Ring in 50th, Jack in 51st, Blake in 53rd, Victoria Byrd in 55th,Mason in 58th and Cherie Neal in 65th.
Blake finished in 14th in the women’s 300-meter final with a 40.55 time. In the 400-meter finals, Anderson placed 17th, Alaysia Reed finished 35th and Halee Jackson placed 37th.
Reed placed 23rd in the women’s 600-yard finals with a time of 1:29.42, while Jackson finished 27th. Dwyer earned seventh place in the women’s 800-meter final, and Lalaina Wood placed 29th in the women’s mile final.
In the field events, Byrd placed 26th in the women’s long jump final, while Neal finished 29th and Ciera Cammon placed 30th. Leah Brown placed 22nd in the women’s triple jump.
In the women’s throwing events, Ryah Dates placed eighth in the women’s shot put finals. Shakera Williams placed 15th and Eliska Zahradnickova finished 18th. In the weight throw finals, Ana Manousaridis placed 11th, followed by Dates in 13th and Margret Mannering in 24th.
In the throws group, Dates, a sophomore health and exercise major, said the team’s chemistry heading into the season is strong. Dates’ personal focus is on steady improvement and consistency.
“Individually, my goal is to progress throughout the season by fixing technical flaws and learning from week to week,” Dates said. “No matter what happens, I want to put my best effort every time I step into the circle.”
In the men’s 4×400-meter final, Kason Jones, Desmond Duncan, Elijah Rowe and Will Achee finished 6th with a time of 3:08.13.
In the sprints events, Koen Beavers missed qualifying for the finals in the 60-meter, placing ninth in the semifinals. In the 200-meter final, Kalen Beavers finished 11th, Koen Beavers placed 52nd and Brian Fisher finished 71st.
Rowe placed 11th in the men’s 300-meters, while Jones finished 17th. In the 400-meter final, Achee earned fifth place, followed by Duncan in 13th and Mikkel Johansson in 23rd.
In the men’s field events, Randy Kelly placed eighth in the high jump final. In the long jump final, Roy Morris finished 12th, Marquis Butler placed 17th and Kelly placed 21st. In the triple jump finals, Butler came in seventh place.
Kelly, a senior business major from South Carolina, said his approach to the season had changed compared to earlier years.
“This year I am not putting a lot of pressure on myself,” Kelly said. “I’m going into this season with the attitude of making it my best year and getting the most out of it.”
In the men’s throwing events, Donroy Brown placed 11th in the shot put throw, while Abner Johnson finished 15th. Johnson also earned seventh place in the weight throw.
According to NSU Athletics, Achee ran a 46.84 in the men’s 400-meter dash, setting an indoor track record for NSU.
Throughout preseason training, the coaching staff emphasized on developing both physical and mental toughness. Heimerman explained that many athletes arrive at the collegiate level and have not been pushed to their limits in high school, making mindset a major point of emphasis.
“The biggest focus this year is finding how far we can push them and how far they can expand their mind to allow themselves to be pushed,” Heimerman said.
Heimerman noted the program’s recent success, particularly on the women’s side. He explained that the women have won the Southland Conference title five out of the last six opportunities. The men have placed towards the top in the last few years and are eager to push themselves to the championship.
“Our expectations are to try to win conference titles for both men and women, and we’ll go out there and give it everything we got to try to make that happen,” Heimerman said.
The NSU men’s and women’s track and field teams consist of student-athletes from various locations in the United States, as well as international student-athletes. The men’s team has seven international athletes and the women’s team has 18 international athletes, from countries such as the Czech Republic, Jamaica, Nigeria, Serbia, Sweden, the Bahamas, Canada, Italy, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Guyana, England, Denmark and the Netherlands.
The Demons enter the season focused on effort, growth and competing at a championship level. Their next meet is scheduled for Jan. 31 at the Pittsburg State University Invitational in Pittsburg, Kansas.
