The LSU track and field team will host its first home meet of the season when the LSU Twilight Meet kicks off today at the Carl Maddox Field House.
The No. 3 Lady Tigers and No. 4 Tigers finally return home after three straight weeks of traveling — something coach Dennis Shaver will relish.
“It’s important that they have a break in traveling,” Shaver said. “I don’t care if I ever see a plane again.”
Senior hurdler Barrett Nugent will be the only NCAA qualifier in action for either team, coming off a season best in the 60-meter hurdles last week at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark.
Nugent said finally being able to stay home is a luxury and that not having to loosen up after long plane rides will be a welcome sign. He added that even though last week was a seasonal best, he still has room to improve.
“I normally don’t flip the fast switch until the national track meet,” Nugent said.
Senior Keyth Talley and junior Rynell Parson both enter the meet with top-25 times in the 60-meter dash, each looking to get to NCAA qualifying times.
The meet serves as a tune-up for the Southeastern Conference Championship meet, which begins Feb. 24. With championship season nearing, Shaver said he is cautious about who will compete today.
“Only part of the team is going to be competing, part is going to be resting, and the other part will be training,” Shaver said.
One of those who will be resting is junior Kimberlyn Duncan, who holds the No. 1 time in the country in the 200-meter dash.
Duncan will be training this weekend and hopes it will provide her with the extra boost she needs for the SEC Championship.
“I feel like this is the week that will make me fresh and ready to go for SEC’s [championships],” Duncan said.
Junior All-American Takeia Pinckney and sophomore All-American Jasmin Stowers will both look to post qualifying times — Pinckney in the 60-meter dash and Stowers in the 60-meter hurdles.
Shaver said he hopes that last week’s performance at the Tyson Invitational carries into this weekend and beyond into the SEC and NCAA Championship meets. Despite the absences, Shaver added that those who will compete have an opportunity to better their position for the NCAA meet.
“It’s always easy to build upon those kind of meets [like the Tyson Invitational],” Shaver said. “I thought the athletes did a remarkable job of accepting the challenges we threw at them.”
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Contact Chandler Rome at [email protected]