While Southeastern Conference teams usually stay in the comfort and warmth of the South for their athletic events, the LSU track and field teams will enjoy a more glitzy and glamourous setting this weekend.
The Nos. 2 and 3 Tigers and Lady Tigers are traveling to New York to compete at the venerated Armory Track and Field Center in the New Balance Invitational.
The locale is not wholly unfamiliar to LSU — they’ve competed in the event every year since 2002.
“It’s a big deal for our team to go and compete at a place like the Armory,” said LSU coach Dennis Shaver. “There’s going to be more than 225 teams there.”
But for reigning national champion Walter Henning, the New Balance Invitational is more than a big regular season meet. It’s a homecoming.
The senior thrower from Kings Park, N.Y., has grown accustomed to setting records at the facility, which is where he competed in high school.
“Anytime an athlete has an opportunity as a senior to go back and compete at the place they did in high school is special,” Shaver said. “Especially when they can do it in front of their family.”
While Henning was in high school, the weight-throwing area had to be refurbished to accommodate Henning, who was launching the weight out of the landing area.
Henning set the national high school record in the weight throw at the Armory, and he also set a new facility record in the 35-pound weight throw at last season’s New Balance Invitational.
The weight throw has been Henning’s best event during his career at LSU, and this season is no different. Henning currently owns the nation’s longest throw in the event this season.
Both the Tigers and Lady Tigers will test their mettle against some of the top competition in the country.
The New Balance Invitational is one of only two regular season meets where teams earn points for their performance in the event, and a winner is declared at the end.
The Tigers will compete against seven other programs in the top 25, including an SEC foe, No. 11 Arkansas.
Through three meets, five LSU athletes have already cemented spots in the Indoor Track and Field Championships at College Station, Texas.
Henning will be joined by senior Zedric Thomas and sophomore Damar Forbes in the long jump and junior Kyron Blaise in the triple jump.
Bowerman award candidate Semoy Hackett, who is set to compete at the indoor championships in both the 60-meter and 200-meter runs, leads the Lady Tigers.
Several other Tigers could punch a ticket to the indoor championships with solid performances at the Armory this weekend.
The Lady Tigers may have an even tougher slate, going up against 10 top 25 programs, including five other top 10 teams.