Sophomore sprinter Aaron Ernest made history for the LSU track and field program at the World Junior Track Championships in Barcelona, Spain, taking home the silver medal in the 100-meter dash on Wednesday.
Ernest became the first Tiger to medal in a sprint event at the World Juniors meet, and the second Tiger to ever medal, following Walter Henning, who threw gold in the 2008 hammer toss.
“Obviously, I wanted to win, and I could have put together a better race today, but I’m pleased with the outcome,” Ernest said in an interview after the event. “I felt great running in the semifinal, and came back and ran a pretty good race tonight to win a silver medal.”
Ernest posted a time of 10.17 seconds that tied his personal best, which he originally set at the Southeastern Conference championships, and finished .12 seconds behind Great Britain’s Adam Gemili.
Ernest and Gemili ended a two-year hold that the Jamaicans had on the event.
“I timed my personal best, so I’m pleased,” Ernest said. “I thought I came out of the start either second or third and just rolled it up. I just felt good all day. I always had confidence, but this just helps me out a little more. I’m thankful to have this opportunity.”
Sophomore Andreas Duplantis reached the finals of the pole vault with a jump of 16-feet and 10 and three-fourths inches.
Duplantis, who is representing Sweden in the meet, travels to Barcelona as the No. 10 junior pole vaulter for the 2012 season with a jump of 17 feet and 5 and one half inches during the 2012 outdoor season at LSU.
Duplantis will compete in the finals on Thursday.
Sophomore discus thrower, Rodney Brown, also competed on Tuesday when he threw a series best of 179 feet, 4 inches for an 18th place finish, six spots short of the cut for the next round.
Sophomore sprinter Quincy Downing is the only Tiger left to compete in his first event. Downing will lineup for the 4×400-meter relay on Saturday.
Contact Mike Gegenheimer at [email protected].