With the Southeastern Conference meet only a week away, the No. 2 LSU Track and Field teams will use this weekend’s Twilight Invitational to launch its teams into postseason competition.   LSU coach Dennis Shaver ramped up the team’s training efforts this week in order to let the athletes rest before the SEC meet next week.   But the Carl Maddox Field House’s limitations may hinder some from automatically qualifying for the national meet.   “It’s a good weekend to participate, but we’re going to what it is that the facility allows us to do,” Shaver said. “That is run the 60 meters, the 60 meter hurdles and all of the field events.”   Shaver said the lack of a banked track hinders athletes in their attempts to qualify for anything other than the 60-meter events.   “It’s impossible to run around the oval here and qualify, on a flat track you just can’t qualify,” Shaver said. “As a result of that we are trying to do the things the facility allows us to do.”   But there are still several athletes in the shorter events who can advance to the NCAA championships with solid performances.   Junior hurdler Barrett Nugent is still .03 seconds shy of automatically qualifying for the national meet.    Nugent claimed the SEC title in the 60-meter hurdles at last year’s SEC championship, but hasn’t performed at last season’s levels yet.    “Barrett is a little bit behind in his event, and this week is an opportunity for him to be able to improve on his performance,” Shaver said. “If he can get in a couple races running the same time he ran at Fayetteville last week I’ll be pretty pleased with that.”   Nugent could still participate in nationals without qualifying automatically. He’s ranked No. 5 in the event nationally with a seasonal-best time of 7.73 seconds he set in last week’s Tyson Invitational.   The top 16 athletes in each event qualify for national competition.   Nugent is one of a slew of athletes that are on the cusp of automatic qualification.   Junior Horatio Williams and senior Gabriel Mvumvure are both within reach of qualifying in the 60-meter dash. Williams is just .01 seconds short of automatic qualification, and Mvumvure is .02 seconds outside the top 16 in the country in the event.   Sophomore sprinter Takeia Pinckney may have the most to benefit from in the meet.   Pinckney has been bothered by an injury for most of the indoor season. Last weekend’s Tyson Invitational was her first competition of the season.   “Takeia Pinckney has been a little bit injured this indoor season and she seems to be getting a little bit healthier,” Shaver said. “I’m hoping she’s able to put together a little bit better performance than what she has.”   In her freshman campaign, Pinckney garnered three All American honors and was named the SEC female freshman runner of the year.   “My main objective with her is to not take any risks and keep her healthy,” Shaver said. “It’s going to be hard for her in such a short time period to get anything done for us.”   —-
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