The LSU track and field team wrapped up the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championship meet Sunday with somewhat mixed results.
The No. 2 Lady Tigers crowned four individual champions, but fell just short of defending their conference championship, placing runner-up to No. 6 Florida. LSU’s No. 3 men’s squad could not improve on last year’s third-place finish, instead stumbling to fourth.
“I’m proud of our athletes in the way they competed today,” LSU coach Dennis Shaver said in a news release. “We really put ourselves in a better position to compete at the NCAA Championships with some of the performances we saw today.”
Junior Kimberlyn Duncan and sophomore Jasmin Stowers paced the Lady Tigers, both winning individual crowns. Stowers set a new personal record in claiming the 60-meter hurdles title, followed closely in third by teammate, junior Shanekia Hall, who also set a personal best.
Duncan continued her assault on the 200-meter dash, posting a season-best time to place first. She has now won 13 consecutive collegiate finals in the event.
“Coach Shaver and I have really been working on my start during practice,” Stowers said in a news release. “That was a key component for this race today.”
The Lady Tigers saved the best for last when the 4×400-meter relay team of Duncan, junior Siedda Herbert, and seniors Cassandra Tate and Jonique Day claimed the 12th title in the event in program history.
The Tigers got a surprising lift from freshman Aaron Ernest in his first career SEC final. The New Orleans native ran his second personal best of the weekend in the 200-meter dash to place second.
“Coming into this meet, I wasn’t even supposed to make the final,” Ernest said in a news release. “I guess second is pretty good since I’m not even supposed to be in the final. I’ll take it.”
Senior Kyron Blaise led the Tigers in the field events, setting a new personal record and taking third in the triple jump. Junior Damar Forbes, who placed second in the long jump, was close behind in fifth and also set a personal record.
Senior Michael Lauro completed his final SEC Championship with a second place finish in the weight throw.
The Tigers also closed out the meet with an emphatic win in the 4×400-meter relay. The team of seniors Keyth Talley, Riker Hylton and Ade Alleyne-Forte and junior Caleb Williams bested Georgia by 0.49 seconds.
“I’m excited for the opportunity we have in two weeks to really go out and compete for a national championship,” Shaver said. “It’s what we work toward all year long.”
Both the Tigers and Lady Tigers will return home for the LSU Invitational at the Carl Maddox Field House on Friday. The meet is a precursor for the NCAA Indoor Championship Meet on March 9 and 10 in Nampa, Idaho.
 
____
Contact Chandler Rome at [email protected]