The LSU track and field teams wrapped up the indoor regular season Friday at the LSU Twilight meet in the Carl Maddox Field House with nine event wins and 13 indoor personal bests.
LSU was led by sophomore jumper Nataliyah Friar, who continued her productive season with a season-best leap of 20 feet, 6 1/2 inches to win the long jump title. Friar finished more than two feet beyond her closest competitor, and the jump is the NCAA’s No.15 ranked effort this season.
“I felt OK, but I know I can jump better,” Friar said in a news release. “I know my landing is something I need to get better at.” “I know if I hit the board right, I’ll just fly and be just fine.”
Friar and the rest of the team looked to perform their best before they compete in the Southeastern Conference Championships next weekend in Lexington, Kentucky. Friar set her previous seasonal best in Lexington earlier this year.
“When next week comes, I know I’m going to have to improve to make sure I qualify,” Friar said. “They actually have a pretty good runway that’s elevated a little bit so it’s nice and bouncy, so I’m hoping to pop a couple good ones off.”
Senior long-distance runner Phillip Primeaux helped lead the way for the men, winning the 3,000-meter run with a season-best time of 8:16.75. Primeaux only participated in the event once this indoor season prior to Friday.
Sophomore Blair Henderson won the 800-meter title while recording his season-best time of 1:49.69 . Henderson finished almost four seconds ahead of his closest competitor.
Former LSU All-American Jasmin Stowers, now in her first season on the professional circuit, won the women’s 60 meter hurdle event and broke the Carl Maddox Field House record with a time of 7.90 seconds. The previous facility record was held by Lolo Jones and stood for six years.
LSU freshman Daeshon Gordon finished three spots behind Stowers in the event with a time of 8.48 seconds.
“We picked up a few good performances here tonight particularly in the field events,” said LSU head coach Dennis Shaver in a news release.” “All of our athletes across the board know they’ll have to raise their game next week when we have our last chance to qualify at SECs.”
The team will head to the Nutter Field House in Lexington, Kentucky, next weekend for the second time this year to compete in the 2015 SEC Championships from Feb.27-28.