HAMMOND – Growing pains aside, Southeastern Louisiana track and field coach Sean Brady is ready to move on to the outdoor season.

“I'm ready to get outdoors where our young group is ready and familiar,” Brady said. “Indoor season for the first year athletes is always a learning curve. Because we had so many we took some lumps, but I'm very optimistic we'll have some good things happen outdoors.”

The opportunity comes Saturday as Southeastern opens the outdoor portion of its 2011-12 schedule at the McNeese Cowboy “Bob Hayes Louisiana Challenge” in Lake Charles, La.

Tracks become longer, heavy throws and the javelin are added to event schedules, and wind becomes a factor in the outdoor season.

“Wind is such an advantage for the sprint events,” Brady said. “We want a good wind, not too much, but a steady, constant wind to see if we can post some good times.”

The Lions will be without the services of Southland Conference (indoor) 200-meter champ Shannon Grover as his eligibility has expired, but Brady is looking to the Southland's runner-up to take charge.

“T.J. Herbert, a sophomore, was just behind [Shannon],” Brady said. “He had a great meet at the indoor championships and we anticipate that he's going to be right there in the thick of it during outdoors.”

For the Lady Lions, Brady expects a couple of underclassmen to continue their recent strong performances.

“Sophomore Nia Stewart will carry over and run the 100-meter dash,” Brady said. “Freshman Ikea Kaufman came on strong at the end of the indoor season so we believe she can be a factor for us.”

In the field events, Southeastern is strong in the pole vault event. Sisters Ashley and Brittany Pfantz and Colleen Butler give the Lady Lions a trio of competitors.

“If all three of our pole vaulters are healthy we can really rack up some points in that event,” Brady said.

On the men's side, All-American Kovey Simmons is fresh off setting a school indoor record in the pole vault and freshman Vance Law qualified for the Southland indoor championships.

Brady is also excited to see his throwers, including a key transfer, in action.

“Jeff Milliron, a freshman, is a transfer from SUNY-Cobleskill,” Brady said. “He's a proven commodity and we're anxious to see how he adjusts to the warm weather of South Louisiana. We believe he'll make an impact for us.”