OKLAHOMA CITY -- Senior Jessica Tuck had a season-best long jump and qualified for the 200 meter dash finals on Friday as a highlight for Northwestern State in the first day of the 2010 Southland Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Lady Demon senior Anna Forest was the third-fastest qualifier in the 60 meter dash with a 7.61 preliminary time Friday night. She was joined in the 12-woman semifinals by teammate Shamaigun VanBuren, the 12th and final qualifier with a 7.81 time. Both were season's best for the NSU competitors.
Tuck narrowly missed being in the top 12 with a 7.89 time, but made amends in the 200 with a season-best 25.22 time that was the eighth and final qualifier for the Saturday final in that race.
She also lept 18-11 1/4, 1 1/4 inches past her previous season's best, and took fourth in the long jump, scoring five points.
NSU finished 4-5 and scored nine points in the women's weight throw as senior DeJon Griffin posted a personal best 55-1 1/2 and junior Trecey Rew was right behind with a 55-0 3/4 throw.
The Lady Demons picked up another 1 1/2 points in the high jump as Keyera Thomas tied for seventh with a 5-3 clearance.
NSU junior Andrea Warren was the second-fastest qualifier in the 800, posting a 2:17.56 time.
The NSU men saw freshman Justin Walker advance to Saturday finals in the 60 and 200. He was eighth-fastest in both races, matching his season's best 6.88 in the 60 and running a 22.15 to nab the eighth and final spot in the 200.
Michael Green cruised home as the fifth-fastest 400 meter qualifier in 48.79, almost a second behind his season's best.
The Demons picked up four points in the high jump final as freshman Joshua Commiato took sixth at 6-8 3/4 and senior Greg Hall took eighth with a 6-6 3/4 clearance.
Through six event finals, the Lady Demons were in seventh place with 15 1/2 points while the Demons stood 10th in the 12-team league with four points.
The bulk of the finals will be contested Saturday.