NACOGDOCHES, Texas — For the third-straight year, the Northwestern State Demons won the Southland Conference Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday, with a total of 147.50 points.

UTRGV placed second with 126 points, while SFA came in third with 122 points.

Northwestern State’s Rushana Dwyer set a new outdoor championship meet record in the 400m dash with a time of 51.20. The previous record was set last year by her teammate Maygan Shaw (52.10). Her new personal-best time of 51.20 is also the second best time in the history of the conference.

Dwyer was also a member of the Demons’ first place 4x400m relay team that also set a new championship meet record in the event (3:33.41).

For the second-straight year, Elizabeth Khatevi of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi claimed Most Outstanding Performer honors with 30 points. She brought home gold in the women’s 5000m, silver in the 1500m and bronze in the 800m.

SFA’s Evaline Chepkoech won Newcomer of the Year after scoring a total of 20 points for the Lumberjacks. She placed first in the 1500m and 800m races. 

Both Khatevi and Chepkoech broke conference meet records in the 1500m, running faster than the 4:23.96 time set in 2022 by UIW’s Abby Gray. Chepkoech claimed the new record with a time of 4:10.82, while Khatevi also ran well under the previous record with a time of 4:11.41.

East Texas A&M’s Amara Idinna is the freshman of the year after winning a total of 14 points. She placed second in the high jump (1.73m) and third in the 100m hurdles (13.42).

Northwestern State head coach Mike Heimerman was named the Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year for the third straight year.

Additional event winners from day three included East Texas A&M’s Romi Griese (discus), Jenneil Jacobie (high jump), Sandy Sakyi (100m hurdles), Northwestern State’s Juvonna Cornette (100m dash), UTRGV’s Talyna Ligier (400m hurdles) and Southeastern’’s Onyx Favour (200m).
 

Women’s Coach of the Year - Mike Heimerman, Northwestern State
Women’s Most Valuable Performer - Elizabeth Khatevi, Texas A&M-CC
Women’s Freshman of the Year - Amara Idinna, East Texas A&M
Women’s Newcomer of the Year - Evaline Chepkoech, SFA

FINAL WOMEN’S TEAM STANDINGS
1. Northwestern State - 147.5
2. UTRGV - 126
3. SFA - 122
4. Lamar - 98.5
5. A&M-Corpus Christi - 91.5
6. East Texas A&M - 90
7. UIW - 54
8. McNeese - 33
9. Southeastern - 24
10. HCU - 10.5
11. Nicholls - 10
12. New Orleans 8