MAGNOLIA, Ark. - With the Track and Field season almost at an end the Muleriders are heading back to the Pelican state for the second time this year. While the majority of the entire team have not competed since the SFA Carl Knight Invitational/Multi from roughly two weeks ago, a handful of competitors' last meets took place either at the Earl Milner Invitational at SFA or the Little Rock Twilight at UALR.

SAU will be competing against other teams such as McNeese State, Stephen F. Austin, Wiley, Jarvis Christian, Southeastern La., Bossier Parish CC, Jacksonville College, and the host Northwestern State.

An athlete for the men to keep track of while on the "Live Stats" is probably the obvious Kris Shumaker in the javelin throw. Shumaker has been a headline name in nearly every meet he has competed in this season. The senior is coming off of a first-place performance at the Little Rock Twilight after he threw for 51.03m.

Coming off of a new PR setting is Darius Trimble in the hammer throw after he threw for 49.53m and earned fourth. Trimble the next day placed second in shot put with a distance of 15.13m. About a meter behind him in third was Ja'Kamron Zackery and a distance of 14.15m. Zackery also is coming off of setting a new personal record in a first-place discus performance with a new distance of 48.08m. Trimble followed up Zackery with his own PR of 46.67m at second-place.

Travon Johnson recorded a new PR last week at SFA in the 100m dash. Johnson's time measured up to a very solid 10.83, but just ahead of Johnson was Kyeran Monroe with a time of 10.82. Brandon Sofi and Connor Westhoven both set new PRs in the 110m hurdles. Sofi's new record now sits at 14.98 while Westhoven improved his to 15.79.

Sid Hampton and Westhoven are both top ten finishers after the speeds they were running in the 400m hurdles. Hampton finished his run with a time of 58.57 while Westhoven was right behind recording a time of 58.61.

A highlighted name to first look at on the women's team would have to be Sa'moriya Walker with her performance in the 100m dash. Walker had a very impressive performance earning 11th out of 37 runners in the event with her time of 12.29.
Kailyn Thomas had herself quite the performance in the Arkansas state capitol. Thomas placed second, fourth, and tenth in the hammer, shot put, and discus. Thomas' distance for hammer was set at 43.72m. Her shot put went as far as 12.34m, and her discus soared to 35.31m.

Thomas was not a lone-mulerider in Little Rock as Irieyanna Wilson accompanied her throughout the meet. Wilson placed third, second, and fifth in the hammer, shot put, and discus. Wilson had a distance just two meters behind Thomas in hammer (41.62m). The freshman threw for a long of 12.39m in shot put, and would also PR in the event. Her discus throw went a distance of 40.08m, and another personal record.
 
Another notable name to add is of course Kamrin Hooks with her showing in the 200m dash. Hooks finished 9th after her finishing time of 25.43 was recorded. Hooks also placed 6th in the 400m dash with a strong finish through the line to record a new PR of 58.15. Rozlyne Manor absolutely earned 6th place in the 400m hurdles with her eye-catching speed giving her a time of 1:07.23.

Athletes that didn't partake in the SFA Earl Milner Invitational or Little Rock Twilight that need to be addressed in this preview are Dariusz Patterson and Derrick Onyeador who both placed top ten and earned new PRs in the long jump for their last performances. Patterson placed fifth after he jumped for 6.99m and Onyeador placed sixth with his distance of 6.84m. Rob Kraus is another name that needs mentioning as his last showing presented the second fastest time in school history in the 5000m.

Devlin Rivera and Alexis Matlock are both notable names from the Carl Knight Invitational two weeks ago as Rivera placed fifth in the triple jump after landing for a distance of 11.25m and Matlock placed fourth in the high jump after she "hinged" over the bar that was set at 1.60m.

Bronwyn Buchanan, Logan Warren, and Alyzah McGlasson all had very impressive outings two weeks ago as well when Buchanan set a new PR in 1500m at 5:06.64 while Warren and McGlasson finished first and second in the 3000m steeplechase.

Field events' planned arrival time for the NSU Invitational is 8:30 while the Track events plan to leave a few hours later and arrive at 11:30. Field events will start to take place at 10 am going through 2:30 pm. Track events are planning on beginning at 1 pm with the 3000m steeplechase. From then on out it will be a rolling schedule.