Elastico Superfly TF well. The Lady Demons will get fast times by Madison Morton, a

The 2015 indoor track and field season begins earlier than ever for Northwestern State with Friday’s LSU Invitational at the Carl Maddox Field House, with a big group of newcomers joining some accomplished veterans on the NSU squads this season.

Standouts like Por’sha Thomas, Aaron Williams, Quinton Helaire, Keona Jackson, and Rechelle Bessard will lead the way while talented first-timers such as Cedric Paul, Lawrence Wallace, Jacqueline Rushford, Joshua Wilkins and Madison Morton should have early impact.

Competition begins at Magista Obra FG 2:30 Friday afternoon and should wrap up about 8, with racing starting at 3:30. LSU and Northwestern State will be joined by in-state foes McNeese State, Nicholls State, Southeastern Louisiana and UL Lafayette, along with Texas-Tyler and Hinds Community College.

Second-year head coach Mike Heimerman, who has been with the program as an athlete and coach for nearly 20 years, said the combination will make for an exciting indoor and outdoor season this year.

“About half the squad will be in their first collegiate meet and first indoor meet, so I’m sure some will really shine and some may be more than a little nervous,” said Heimerman. “We had an intersquad meet late last semester and it went very well, which makes me believe the new kids as a group are going to compete well.

“It’s a good mix. We have some quality in each event group,” he said. “We all, athletes and coaches, are very excited to get the season going. These kids have been training since September and have been waiting to put on the NSU uniform and compete against other schools.”

With the Southland Conference Indoor Championships on Feb. 16-17 this year, the start of the season has been accelerated with training starting before classes at NSU begin for the spring semester. Despite the cold temperatures, Heimerman said his competitors have gotten in plenty of outdoor work this week.

“We have been back training this week outside, and gotten in some good practices, so I am expecting some good performances Friday,” he said. “We’re not pushing for them but I know we have some people who are ready to bust loose. Our conference indoor meet is two weeks earlier this year, Barcelona track jacket and we like to peak then.”

Last year’s All-America long jumper, Emmanuel Williams, will redshirt indoors, with his twin brother Aaron competing indoors.

“He’s the better triple jumper of the two and we think he’ll do well,” said Heimerman. “Also, (junior) Zhaquan Porter has looked good in the long and triple.”

Helaire, third at last year’s Southland Indoors in the high jump, “has been looking good,” said Heimerman, who said junior college transfer Wallace will make a mark.

For the Lady Demons, Thomas returns as the reigning Southland Indoor and Outdoor triple jump champ. “She’s looked phenomenal and will be better in the long jump Mercurial Victory V TF too,” said Heimerman.

In the sprints, NSU will have plenty of newcomers on both teams. For the Demons, Ty Shilling and Christian Willis are two veterans who should perform Elastico Superfly TF well. The Lady Demons will get fast times by Madison Morton, a newcomer in the 400.

Mostly newcomers comprise a distance corps that Heimerman calls “the best distance group we’ve had in a few years.” Freshmen Jacqueline Rushford, Joshua Wilkins and Grant Butts are among several promising competitors.

In the throws, the Lady Demons will have the potential for record-setting marks by veterans Jackson and Bessard. Jackson was the Southland runner-up in the shot put at the outdoor championships last May, and will compete in the shot put and weight throw. Bessard, the school record-holder in the weight throw, has looked sharp and sophomore Kwanzaa Andrus has shown improvement.

The NSU men will be bolstered by new faces in the throws, led by Paul.

“Cedric Paul will be a really good shot putter. He has a very, very bright future,” said Heimerman, “and it’s easy to see why he was nationally-ranked last year in high school (at Franklin High).”

Live results from the meet can be tracked at the DeltaTiming.com website. Next week, NSU goes to Texas A&M.

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