HAMMOND, La. – With time winding down on the outdoor season, Southeastern Louisiana returns home Thursday and Friday to host the first-ever Southeastern Lion Invitational at the new Southeastern Track Complex.

It will be Southeastern's first home meet in more than a decade.

“We're ready and cautiously optimistic the weather will be great,” head coach Sean Brady said. “I'm super excited we're going to have an event.”

Schools participating include Lamar, Louisiana-Lafayette, Loyola (N.O.), McNeese State, Northwestern State, Southern and Tulane. A host of Southeastern track alumni will also be competing.

“Over 100 alumni will be in attendance for the meet, including past All-Americans and conference champions,” Brady said. “We finally have a real home for all of our alumni. It's not just about the track and field facility, but where we've come from as a program.”

Two events, the men's and women's hammer throws, kick off the meet at 3 p.m. Thursday. The event will be at the hammer throwing field located next to the Southeastern Soccer Complex on the North Campus.

Friday, events begin at 12:30 p.m. with the men's javelin. Following the women's shot put, opening ceremonies will be held at 1 p.m.

Southeastern has some of the top athletes in the Southland Conference competing. For the Lady Lions, Michelle Ogashi (triple jump) and Jessica Fekete (hammer throw) have the best outdoor performances in the conference. Brittany Pfantz, who owns the Southeastern record in the women's pole vault, is second in the Southland.

For the men, T.J. Herbert turned in the second-best time in the 100-meter dash earlier this season. Kovey Simmons (pole vault) and Jeff Milliron (discus) own the third-best performances in the Southland.

Derek Hampton (men's javelin) and Abram Taylor (men's 110-meter hurdles) own the fourth-best conference performances in their events.

Lion record holders Shannon Grover and Andon Mitchell will also compete as alumni.


SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Thursday:
3:00pm Men's Hammer (followed by women's hammer) at North Campus           
Hammer throwing field located off West Tornado, by soccer facility.

Friday:
Field Events:
12:30pm      Men's Javelin  (followed by Women's Javelin)
                      Women's Shot Put (followed by Men's Shot)
1:30pm        Women's Long jump (followed by Women's Triple Jump)
                      Men's Long Jump (followed by Men's Triple Jump)
                      Women's Pole Vault (followed by Men's Pole Vault)
2:00pm        Men's High Jump (followed by Women's High Jump)
3:30 (est.)    Women's Discus  (followed by Men's Discus)

Running Events (all running events, women, then men):
1:30               4 x 100 relay
1:55               1500 meters
2:30               100hh/110hh
2:55               400 meters
3:25               100 meters
3:45               800 meters
4:20               400 hurdles
4:50               200 meters
5:20               3000 meters
6:25               4 x 400 meters