LEXINGTON, Ky.  – Reaching the NCAA East Preliminary Round Outdoor Track and Field Championships is an impressive accomplishment, but for most of the 12 Northwestern State competitors lining up Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the University of Kentucky, it's one last hurdle to clear to reach their ultimate goal.

The top 12 finishers at the regional championship advance to the national meet in Eugene, Ore., June 7-10.  Six NSU entries rank in the top 21 regionally, including five that are 15^th or higher.

Junior sprinter Amir James' 11^th-ranked 20.56 time in the 200 meter dash tops the list. He is one of six teammates who qualified in two events, and the only one who is competing in three.

James, also a contender in the 100, has a leg on the Demons' 4x100 relay team that hopes to repeat its 2016 All-America honors by finishing in the top 16 at the NCAA Outdoors. Micah Larkins, James, George Flaviano and Ty Shilling finished 15^th nationally last June and will try to punch their return ticket to Eugene Saturday evening.

With the 12 qualifiers, NSU ranks third among the 13 Southland Conference track and field programs in the number of athletes who have reached the regional round of the national championships. While several entries have potential to advance to Oregon, the highest expectation is obviously on the returning All-Americans in the 4x100.

With Shilling returning from a rib injury as the anchor leg at the Southland Conference Outdoors two weeks ago, they cruised to a winning 40.16. Last year, they ran 39.85, 10^th best at the regional round, to earn their trip to Eugene, where they clocked 39.69.

"After last year, anything less than getting back to Eugene would be so frustrating to those guys," said NSU head coach Mike Heimerman. "At conference we ran a very conservative race, just being sure we got the baton around since it was their first time racing together in several weeks. Saturday, we'll take a more aggressive approach and try to run 39-mid.

"Actually though, it's about running whatever it takes to get to Eugene. They're in good shape and excited about the opportunity, and the challenge."
Action for NSU begins Thursday afternoon at 3:30 CST when junior Kelsey Frank will use her near-miss last year as incentive to be one of the dozen among the 48-competitor field to advance in the javelin.

Flaviano takes the track at 4 in his specialty, the 400 meter hurdles, aiming to be one of 24 advancing to Friday regional finals.

James and Larkins run the 100 opening round at 5:55, trying to move to Friday's action, which equates to national quarterfinals. The semifinal round, with the 12 fastest from the East and West preliminary rounds, takes place in Eugene.

Two Lady Demons, De'Shalyn Jones and Natashia Jackson, line up in the 400 heats at 6:20 to wrap up NSU's first-day schedule in Lexington.

Friday, Quanese Jones-Young competes in the women's high jump at 3:30, also when Kyrin Tucker opens competition in the men's shot put. On the track, Braneshia Payton runs in a 100 meter hurdles heat at 3:30.

Regional finals (national quarterfinals) in the women's 400 are at 4:30 Friday, in the men's 100 at 5:15, and the 400 hurdles at 6:15. Jones and Jackson line up in the women's 200 opening round at 6:30, with James going in the men's 200 at 6:55.

Saturday's slate for NSU begins at 1 with Tucker throwing in the discus competition. At 2, Ceasar Stephens competes in the triple jump. Racing involving NSU begins at 5:15 as the Demons' 4x100 relay squad makes its bid for a return trip to the national meet.

The 100 hurdles regional final round, hopefully involving Payton, goes off at 6:05 Saturday, with the women's (6:35) and men's 200 (6:55) national quarterfinals following quickly.

Wet weather could be a factor Thursday, said NSU head coach Mike Heimerman, but the forecast for the next two days seems ideal.

Flaviano, a senior, won a junior college national championship in the 400 hurdles and ran his personal best, 51.06, two weeks ago at the Southland Conference Outdoors. That ranks 13^th in the field Thursday.

"He thinks he can run sub-50 so we're hoping to make the next round, and the (national) semifinals," said Heimerman. "He has a really good shot of getting to the national meet. He's looked stronger and stronger. George hasn't run the hurdles much this spring (due to an early injury) but is in great form now."

James and Larkins own identical 2017 bests of 10.20 in the 100, and each reached the national meet last year and earned honorable mention All-America honors. Their 2017 best ranks them 13^th regionally.

"Anything short of nationals and I think both guys would be disappointed, because they got there last year," said Heimerman. "It's not easy, there's great competition, and they have to go out and advance each round. They want to get back to Eugene."

In the women's 400 Thursday, Jones, a junior, is seeded 32^nd with her 53.61 school-record time. Jackson, a freshman, is 43^rd with her winning 43.85 at the Southland Outdoors.

"For them, the goal is to make it to the next round and go from there. De'Shalyn has only run this race one time this season, but she's definitely got what it takes. Her goal is undoubtedly to make it to Eugene," Heimerman said. "Natashia is running really quick right now. For a freshman, to make it to this level is great and if she can advance Thursday, that would be tremendous."

Frank is seeded 31^st in the javelin field with her winning 156-3 at the Southland Outdoors, a personal best, but she knows seedings don't matter once competition begins. Last year, she entered the competition ranked 34th but almost advanced to the national meet.

"She was two spots out of 12^th last year. If she has a good meet, she can make that trip to Eugene this year," said Heimerman. "She's practiced well. She had a PR last week and she has room to go. It's all about being at her best and she's ready to do that."

Payton, a junior, makes her second trip to the East regional with a 35^th-ranked 13.51, coming off a frustrating third-place finish in the 100 hurdles at the conference meet.

"Bre's running really well. She hit a hurdle at conference or she would have probably won," said Heimerman. "With a clean race, she should get to Saturday and then have a shot to be in the top 12."

For Jones and Jackson in the women's 200, the outlooks differ. Jones stand 21^st regionally with her 23.12 best, while Jackson is 47^th (23.68)
"We're trying to make the top 24 and we expect that to happen for De'Shalyn, and hopefully for Natashia," said Heimerman. "Then it gets down to running their best in the regional final."

Jones-Young, a junior, has the 35^th-best clearance (5-8) in the high jump and has the 16-year-old Lady Demon school record of 5-11 ¼ by Jacqueline Canton as a target.

"She's been looking really, really good. If she stays technically strong, she can get a PR, and have a shot at the school record," said Heimerman. "If she gets that, she'll have a really good shot at getting to the national meet."

Tucker was the 48^th ranked qualifier in the discus, but it's that event which has Heimerman most optimistic about the junior college transfer's chances this weekend. Tucker stands 35^th in the shot put rankings with his 58-2 ½ best and has a 174-9 discus best this spring.

"He had a good shot put training session this (Wednesday) morning and it went really well. The goal is to hit a PR, throw 60 feet, and let the chips fall," said Heimerman. "If we don't make it, we'd still be very happy with 60 feet, which would be a five-foot jump in a year and that's really good. If it's wet, anything could happen in that competition.

"He has a little better chance to make it in the disc. He didn't have a good conference meet, and really  has great potential. I think in a worst-case scenario he should break the school record (180-8, Allen Smith, 1996) by 15-20 feet, if he's in gear. And if he does that, he's got a great chance to go on to Eugene."

Stephens sits 35^th in the triple jump field at 50-10 ¾.

"Ceasar has had a good spring and is in good form," said Heimerman. "We're hoping for his best day Saturday."