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By Jonathon Zenk, Northwestern State Assistant Director of Communications; featured photo courtesy of the Southland Conference

HOUSTON—Is two consecutive Southland Conference outdoor championships and five out of six indoor/outdoor championships a dynasty?

The Northwestern State women’s track and field team dominated the field en route to rolling to the second straight indoor championship after not winning it at all up until that point.

“Each group is special each year,” head coach Mike Heimerman said. “This group bought into everything. There are a lot girls who this is their third, fourth or even fifth championship, which is great, They are all a little different and very special. This one, they worked for it and took directions from day one and didn’t take their foot off the gas. It was phenomenal.”

Despite the team having the win in the bag, the women’s 4×400 relay race was a microcosm of the entire meet. The Lady Demons were in a fight early, but Samari Finney took control of the race in the third leg and Maygan Shaw took it home, defeating the field by more than six seconds, as the Northwestern State rolled to 180.5 points, winning the meet by 63, the largest point difference between Nos. 1 and 2 since 2019 when Stephen F. Austin won by 72 points.

The 4×400 relay was one of five gold medals won by the Lady Demons on the final day of competition, four of which involved Shaw, who leaves Natchitoches as one of the most decorated athletes to ever don a Lady Demons uniform.

The senior from Pineville not only was a member of the 4×400 relay team, she also won gold as a member of the 4×100 relay and won individual races in the 200 and 400.

In the 400-meter dash, she and Finney each found the podium, placing first and third, respectively. Shaw was in a dogfight for the title, but ultimately pulled away with an SLC meet-record 52.10, edging out Southeastern Louisiana’s Onyah Onyinye Favour (52.54) for the gold, while Finney ran a 54.05 to capture the bronze.

Margaret Conteh (56.04) and Tranasia Jones (57.19) placed fifth and seventh in the finals, respectively, to earn points for the Lady Demons.

Shaw also collected the gold in the 200, edging out UTRGV’s Jizzale Davis (23.70) with a 23.47. Finney also earned the bronze in the 200 as well (23.98), eeking out a podium spot over SLU’s Marvellous Asemota.

To start the running events, Shaw, along with Finney, Dynia Lewis and Sileena Farrell, won the 4×100 with a 44.88, edging out Stephen F. Austin (45.11).

The other gold on Saturday came from Jaslyn Smith, who not only won gold, but a spot in regionals with a final jump 42-0.5 in the triple jump.

“It was so exciting,” Smith said. “I even cried, and I don’t ever cry. It was a lot to take in. I have so much support from my team and my family, encouraging me to keep my head up high. It is just happy moment in a really happy day.”

While she didn’t win the gold, Shakera Kirk brought home the silver in the women’s discus, leading three Lady Demons who earned points. She was joined by Tahisha Thompson (156-08) in sixth and Shanice Hutson (153-04) in eighth.

Silet Gray (400 hurdles), Farrell (100-meter dash) and Raven-Symone Jarrett (100 hurdles) also found the podium for the Northwestern State women.

Gray (1:01.80) and Farrell (11.58) each grabbed silvers as the lone Lady Demon running in the events.

“There were so many people who stepped up and that is what it takes to win,” Heimerman said. “These girls did just that. Between Coach (Adam) Pennington and myself talking to them in the meetings on what they needed to do, they executed it almost perfectly.”

Jarrett (13.81) collected the bronze in the 100 hurdles with a 13.81. Lewis finished sixth in the finals with a time of 14.25.

On the men’s side, both relays as well as Dishaun Lamb (110 hurdles), William Achee (400-meter dash) and Tavis Wilson (100-meter dash) made the podium.

Each relay lost close battles for the gold. In the 4×100, the Demons clocked a 39.53, only bested by East Texas A&M’s SLC meet record time of 39.36.

ETAMU again edged out the Demons in the 4×400, running a 3:06.86 to Northwestern State’s 3:07.01.

Lamb clocked a 14.14 to earn the silver, while Achee came from way back in the pack to fight to earn the silver with a time of 46.91. Desmond Duncan ran a 48.61 to finish in eighth.

Wilson collected the bronze in the 100 with a time of 10.39.

Elijah Rowe placed eighth in the 200, clocking a 21.41.

Over on the field, Randy Kelly finished fourth in the high jump (6-8.25), while Justin Craft placed eighth in the discus (154-05).

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CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track and Field hardware is staying where it belongs.
 
Indiana State swept the conference championships for the second straight season, totaling 208 points on the men’s side and 140.5 on the women’s side. The Trees finished 57 points ahead of Illinois State on the men’s side and 20.5 points ahead of the Redbirds on the women’s side. Indiana State’s title sweep gives the Sycamore combined cross country/track and field programs 50 total MVC titles. The Sycamores won back-to-back MVC Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships for the first time since 1998-99 and recorded the program’s first four-peat as MVC Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Champions since 2011-14.
 
The Blue and White entered the championships as the favorites and delivered under pressure throughout a sun-filled weekend in southern Illinois. Six different Sycamores – the men’s 4x100m relay team, Jahnel Bowman, Collin Forrest, Casey Hood Jr., Rachel Mehringer and Terrance O’Bannon – won individual titles Sunday afternoon, while Mehringer broke a conference championship record in the 100m hurdles and Sloan Cox broke the school record in the shot put.
 
In addition to the conference titles, the Sycamores also picked up a plethora of MVC specialty awards. Justice Boston and Emma Yoder were named Co-Freshmen of the Year on the women’s side, while Casey Hood Jr. was the MVC Most Valuable Men’s Athlete of the Championships. Rachel Mehringer was the MVC Most Outstanding Women’s Track Athlete, while Will Staggs was the MVC Elite 18 recipient for having the highest GPA among medalists.
 
TEAM SCORES
MEN
1. Indiana State – 208
2. Illinois State – 151
3. Northern Iowa – 124
4. Drake – 85
5. Southern Illinois – 79
6. Belmont – 64
7. Bradley – 54
8. Evansville – 26
9. Valparaiso – 17
10. UIC – 10
 
WOMEN
1. Indiana State – 140.5
2. Illinois State – 119
3. Northern Iowa – 110
4. Missouri State – 90
5. Bradley – 76
6. Southern Illinois – 75
7. Belmont – 73
8. Murray State – 64.5
9. Drake – 63
10. UIC – 8
T11. Evansville – 0
T12. Valparaiso – 0

 Sunday MVC Champions

 
Sunday All-Conference

• Casey Hood Jr. – 100m (second, 10.38)
• Parker Doyle – 110m hurdles (third, 14.26)
• Noah Gilmore – high jump (second, 2.02m/6-7.5)
• Jaden Smith – triple jump (third, 14.89m/48-10.25)
• Justice Boston – triple jump (third, 12.18m/39-11.5)
• Sloan Cox – shot put (second, 18.62m/61-1.25, school record)
• Aliseonna Garnett – shot put (third, 15.30m/50-2.5)
• Noah Bolt – hammer throw (second, 61.65m/202-3)
• Niesha Anderson – hammer throw (second, 58.51m/191-11, sixth in program history)
• Jake Ottersbach – decathlon (third, 6881, fourth in program history)

 
Sunday Scorers

• Daunte Majors – 100m (sixth, 10.61), 200m (fourth, 21.15)
• Janiya Bowman – 100m (sixth, 11.90)
• Michelle McDonald – 100m (eighth, 12.02), 200m (seventh, 24.47)
• Trent Jones – 400m (fourth, 47.39)
• Emerson Fayman – 1500m (fourth, 3:48.26)
• Jason Dworak – 1500m (fifth, 3:49.11)
• Emma Gresham – 1500m (sixth, 4:21.62, second in program history), 5000m (fifth, 16:55.36)
• Ryan Handy – 5000m (fifth, 14:27.97)
• David Carnell – 110m hurdles (fifth, 14.33)
• Luigi Rivas – 110m hurdles (eighth, 16.91)
• Janiya Bowman, Michelle McDonald, Krystian Dilosa, Rachel Mehringer – 4x100m relay (fifth, 45.38, eighth in program history)
• Parker Doyle – 400m hurdles (sixth, 53.70)
• Noelle Dilosa – 400m hurdles (fifth, 1:01.91, prelims time of 1:01.36 is eighth in program history)
• Ethan Widenhoefer – high jump (fourth, 1.99m/6-6.25)
• Kilan Macklin – high jump (sixth, 1.96m/6-5)
• Amare Draughn – high jump (seventh, 1.96m/6-5)
• Ellie Irwin – high jump (fourth, 1.69m/5-6.5)
• Aaliyah Thurman – triple jump (sixth, 11.62m/38-1.5)
• Wyatt Puff – shot put (seventh, 17.80m/58-4.75)
• Niesha Anderson – shot put (eighth, 14.54m/47-8.5)
• Emma Yoder – hammer throw (seventh, 51.10m/167-8)
• Kathryn Ison – heptathlon (sixth, 4604, ninth in program history)
• Ty Newsom – decathlon (sixth, 6407)
• Zenon Rule – decathlon (eighth, 6181)

 
Saturday Recap
 
Sprints/Hurdles
Indiana State’s sprinters and hurdlers made significant contributions on Championship Sunday with five conference champions and a conference championship record broken. The Sycamores swept the 100 and 110 hurdles titles, with Rachel Mehringer running an MVC Championship record 13.07 to win the 100 hurdles and Collin Forrest repeating as 110m hurdles champion with a time of 14.09. Parker Doyle (14.26) earned all-conference in the 110m hurdles and also placed sixth in the 400m hurdles (53.70), while David Carnell (14.33) and Luigi Rivas (16.91) also scored in the 110m hurdles.
 
The men’s 100m continued to be a success story for the Sycamores, with Terrance O’Bannon (10.36) repeating as champion in the event and Casey Hood Jr. (10.38) right behind in second. Daunte Majors (10.61) added a sixth-place finish, and the trio combined with Matthew Wray to win the 4x100m relay in 39.73. Janiya Bowman (11.90) and Michelle McDonald (12.02) both scored in the women’s 100m, and also teamed up with Krystian Dilosa and Mehringer to run the eighth-fastest 4x100m relay at 45.38.
 
Hood Jr. also added a 200m conference title to his record-setting season with a time of 20.71, while Majors placed fourth at 21.15. McDonald finished seventh in the women’s 200m at 24.47, while Noelle Dilosa (400m hurdles, 1:01.91) and Trent Jones (400m, 47.39) both carded top-five finishes for the Sycamores.
 
Indiana State finished fifth in the men’s 4x400m relay, with the team of Weaver, Wray, Jason Dworak and Jones going 3:15.33. The Sycamores ran an all-distance crew women’s 4x400m relay, as Halle Miller, Hadley Gradolf, Erica Barker and Emma Gresham clocked a time of 4:12.92.
 
Mid-Distance/Distance
Indiana State scored points in every distance event it fielded entries in Sunday, including a pair in the men’s 1500 with Emerson Fayman (3:48.26) and Jason Dworak (3:49.11) both finishing in the top five. Emma Gresham ran the second-fastest 1500m time in program history on the women’s side, with her 4:21.62 putting her sixth in the field.
 
Gresham also ran a 5000m time of 16:55.36 to earn a fifth-place finish, with Ryan Handy also placing in the top five in the men’s 5000m with his time of 14:27.97.
 
Jumps
Indiana State had significant scoring in the jumps events Sunday, led by Jahnel Bowman’s indoor-outdoor triple jump sweep. Bowman had a career-best jump of 12.38m (40-7.5), with Justice Boston (12.18/39-11.5) earning all-conference honors and Aaliyah Thurman (11.62m/38-1.5) finishing sixth. The Sycamores also got an all-conference performance from Jaden Smith in the triple jump, courtesy of a season-best mark of 14.89m (48-10.25).
 
Indiana State’s high jumpers also had a strong day, with four Sycamores finishing in the top seven on the men’s side. Noah Gilmore cleared 2.02m (6-7.5) to earn all-conference honors, while Ethan Widenhoefer (1.99m/6-6.25), Kilan Macklin (1.96m/6-5) and Amare Draughn (1.96m/6-5) all scoring for the Trees. Ellie Irwin cleared 1.69m (5-6.5) on her first attempt to finish fourth on the women’s side.
 
Throws
Indiana State’s throwers had another strong Championship Sunday, led by Sloan Cox breaking the school record in the shot put. Cox had a mark of 18.62m (61-1.25) to finish second, with Wyatt Puff (17.80m/58-4.75) finishing seventh. Aliseonna Garnett (15.30m/50-2.5) earned a third-place finish on the women’s side, with Niesha Andeson (14.54m/47-8.5) also scoring points for the Sycamores in the shot put.
 
Anderson also had a career-best performance in the hammer throw, with her mark of 58.51m (191-11) ranking sixth in program history and giving her a runner-up finish in the conference championship. Emma Yoder also scored for the Sycamores with a mark of 51.10m (167-8). On the men’s side, Noah Bolt had a season-best hammer throw of 61.65m (202-3) to earn a second-place finish
 
Multis
Indiana State had four multi athletes score points, including all three decathlon entries. Jake Ottersbach continued his strong weekend, placing third with 6881 points, a top-five total in program history. Ottersbach had top performances in the 110m hurdles (14.61) pole vault (4.20m/13-9.25) and javelin (47.29m/155-2) on Championship Sunday. Ty Newsom finished sixth with a career-best 6407 points, bolstered by strong performances in the 1500m (4:48.17) and 110m hurdles (15.89). Zenon Rule placed eighth with a career-best 6181 points, with his strong performances in the pole vault (4.30m/14-1.25) and 110m hurdles (15.31) helping him secure a scoring position.
 
Kathryn Ison cracked the top 10 in program history in the heptathlon, with her 4604 points placing sixth at the championships and ninth in program history. Ison’s long jump of 5.26m (17-3.25) and performance in the 800m (2:29.34) helped her cause after a strong opening day. Chloe Rolen also recorded a career-best performance with 4427 points, with a strong 200m (2:28.17) finishing off her best-ever heptathlon.
 
Up Next
Indiana State turns its attention to the NCAA East First Round May 28-31 in Jacksonville, Florida, with qualifying athletes being announced in the coming days.
 
Follow the Sycamores

For the latest information on the Sycamore Track & Field and Cross Country teams, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from the both the App Store and the Google Play Store.
 

– #MarchOn –

, The Sunday Times

A private island or an exclusive beach resort is an enticing lure on big-ship sailings to the Bahamas and beyond. Cruise fans can’t get enough of these custom-designed playgrounds, which offer a hassle-free beach day that’s essentially an extension of the ship — no crime, usually cash-free and no hostility about overtourism. Call it sanitised, but this is the future of Caribbean cruising, with islands being added all the time. Here are seven to look out for.

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1. Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas

Coco Beach Club has overwater cabanas with slides into the sea

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Details Three nights’ full board on Celebrity Reflection’s Bahamas and Perfect Day cruise from £292pp, departing from Fort Lauderdale on March 20, 2026 (celebritycruises.com). Fly to Miami

2. Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, Bahamas

Ocean Cay Marine Reserve offers kayaking and snorkelling

ALAMY

Hats off to MSC Cruises for its conservation efforts in converting a derelict sand-extraction site into a private island. On Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, about 20 miles south of Bimini, 75,000 plants have been established and more than 400 new sections of coral gardens created. That loggerhead turtles and other species have returned to the site is testament to the success of the project. Activities include snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding and watching the nightly Junkanoo parade, a traditional and colourful celebration of Bahamian culture. But there are no lagoon pools or waterslides here. The ship’s crew have their own beach too.
Details Seven nights’ full board on MSC Seascape’s Bahamas and Caribbean cruise from £778pp, including tips, departing from Miami on June 29 (msccruises.co.uk). Fly to Miami

3. Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

Beachfront cabanas on Half Moon Cay

ALAMY

Another Bahamian paradise, between Eleuthera and Cat Island, Holland America Line’s Half Moon Cay is a perfect crescent of white sand on the northwest side of Little San Salvador Island, between Eleuthera and Cat Island. Little San Salvador Island almost completely encircles the protected, 700-acre Bonefish Lagoon. There are extra thrills to be had from knowing that this was once a pirate hangout. This is a more low-key cay, with much of the island left to nature. There is snorkelling, kayaking on the lagoon, horse riding on the beach, cycling and nature walks on which you can try to spot the 40 species of bird that frequent the island. Rent a cabana, tuck into rolls from the Lobster Shack or send a postcard home from the tiny post office.
Details Seven nights’ full board on Nieuw Statendam’s Eastern Caribbean cruise from £929pp, departing from Fort Lauderdale on December 13 (hollandamerica.com). Fly to Miami

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4. Motu Mahana, French Polynesia

Motu Mahana is blisfully low-key

DAMIEN DECAIX / STUDIO GAUGUIN-PONANT

If French Polynesia weren’t idyllic enough, Le Paul Gauguin, part of the French-owned Ponant line, has a private motu, or islet in the Society Islands, off the coast of sleepy Taha’a, which forms a bottle-green backdrop to a landscape of bone-white sand and topaz sea. Your day playing castaway is blissfully low-key. Snorkel, kayak, play beach volleyball, learn how to open a coconut or join a pareu-tying workshop. There are also massages in an overwater pavilion, as well as a beach barbecue and a floating bar serving cocktails.
Details Seven nights’ all-inclusive on Ponant’s Tahiti and the Society Islands cruise from £4,580pp, departing from Papeete on August 23 (uk.ponant.com). Fly to Papeete

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5. Princess Cays, Eleuthera, Bahamas

Colourful beach huts for hire on Princess Cays

DONNA IRENE MUCCIO

A stretch of beach, rather than an island, the 40-acre Princess Cays is on the southwestern side of long, skinny Eleuthera. There’s a focus on sustainability here, from providing local farmers with select waste for animal feed to donating cooking oil to the community for biofuel. The souvenirs in the craft market are locally made too. Activities include snorkelling and kayaking, catch-and-release fishing, dune-buggy safaris and climbing the observation tower for views across the island. A lavish beach barbecue is included, while jauntily coloured beach huts are available to rent from £186.
Details Seven nights’ full board on Star Princess’s Eastern Caribbean with Bahamas cruise from £649pp, departing from Fort Lauderdale on November 22 (princess.com). Fly to Miami

6. Harvest Caye, Belize

Harvest Caye, Belize, offers seven acres of sand

STEVE BEAUDET / NCL

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Harvest Caye, one of two private resorts operated by the cruise line, is a 75-acre sliver of palm-shaded sand off the coast of Placencia on Belize, fringed by mangroves and with access for snorkellers to the corals of the Belize Barrier Reef. There are seven acres of sand on which to play, a zip line, a wildlife sanctuary and a huge, free-form pool. You can rent kayaks, bikes and paddleboards at extra cost or splurge £317pp on a private cabana. All the concessions here — from the bars and restaurants to the Moho chocolate shop — are locally run, so there’s more engagement with the local community, but you’ll need to bring cash.
Details Seven nights’ full board on Norwegian Escape’s Great Stirrup Cay and Harvest Caye cruise from £949pp, departing from Miami on June 1 (ncl.com). Fly to Miami

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7. Lookout Cay Lighthouse Point, Eleuthera, Bahamas

Lookout Cay Lighthouse Point is spread out over 900 acres

Disney Cruise Line has Castaway Cay and last year opened a private resort at the tip of Eleuthera — the 900-acre Lookout Cay Lighthouse Point, where the emphasis is on sustainability and Bahamian culture. Less than 20 per cent of the land has been developed, leaving much of the space to nature, and Bahamians can use the facilities too. The beach is a seemingly endless expanse of pinky-white sand, with areas for families and Serenity Bay beach, for adults only. There’s a cultural centre with twice-daily joncanoe shows, as well as children’s play areas and appearances by Disney characters.
Details Three nights’ full board on Disney Dream’s Bahamian Cruise from £684pp, departing from Fort Lauderdale on September 5 (disneycruise.disney.go.com). Fly to Miami

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