HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University track and field team continues preparation for the Southland Conference Outdoor Championship as it hosts the Strawberry Relays Saturday morning for senior day at the SLU Track and Field Complex beginning at 10 a.m. with the women's discus.
 
SLU, under fifth-year track and field head coach Corey Mistretta, is just three weeks away from the Southland Outdoor Championships which are Friday, May 6-8 in Humble, Texas.
 
"Any time we have an opportunity to compete on campus in front of our fans it's very exciting," said Mistretta. "Our men and women are very excited about this meet. We have had some good training sessions and I believe we will see some big performances this weekend."
 
Southeastern will also have a senior ceremony at 11:30 a.m. for four seniors on this year's squad. For the Lady Lions, Thais Gomes and Destinee Jeanpierre will be honored. On the men's side, SLU will recognize Thomas Nedow and Bradley Makuvire
 
"I'm very excited to celebrate our seniors who have given so much to our program," said Mistretta.  "They deserve to be recognized for what they have meant to Southeastern during their time here."
 
Entering Saturday, the Lions and Lady Lions sit atop the Southland rankings in several events. SLU's Eugene Omalla (400m), Makuvire (10k) and Slavko Stevic (high jump) hold the number one ranking in their respective events for the men's team.
 
Omalla, a sophomore, ran a SLU Track Complex record 46.04 at the SLU Dual Meet back on March 18. The Chawolo, Uganda will be in action Saturday as he looks to add to his national rank of 15 in the event.

Makuvire, the school record holder in the 10k, posted a Southland best 29:36.90 at the Raleigh Relays in North Carolina on March 25. Out of Zvishavane, Zimbabwe, Makuvire has had an impressive season thus far, winning the Southland Cross Country title back in November. He also earned the conference indoor championships in both the 3k and 5k.
 
Stevic, the reigning conference indoor and outdoor champion in the high jump, leaped to a personal-high 7-1.5 (2.17m) at the Southern Miss Invitational April 1 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
 
On the women's side, Southeastern's Kristian Jackson has the top spot in the discus and hammer throw. The senior threw a school and SLU Track Complex record of 170-9 (52.4m) in the discus at the SLU Dual Meet.
 
"There are a number of events that will be extremely competitive and exciting," said Mistretta. "We have a lot of individuals and relay teams chasing NCAA Regional Qualifying standards, so it should be a fun day."
 
Fans can follow Saturday's meet with live results and heat sheets available at the SLU track and field schedule page at LionSports.Net.
 
PODIUM CLUB/S CLUB  
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the track and field program are encouraged to join the Podium Club. Lion alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners. All membership fees and donations to Podium Club are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern track and field program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Track and Field, follow @LionUpTrack and @CoreyMistretta on Twitter, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube. channel.