LSU’s track and field teams headlined the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays with big wins for both the Tigers and Lady Tigers at the Mike A. Myers Stadium on Saturday.
The Tigers accomplished a top national time in the 4×400-meter relay with a NCAA top time of 3 minutes, 1.83 seconds on Saturday. The Lady Tigers finished sprint relay double wins in the 4×100-meter and 4×200-meter relays.
.The Lady Tigers won the women’s 4×100 relay in second place nationally with a time at 43.25 seconds and won the women’s 4×200 relay with a NCAA-leading time of 1:31.30.
“I’m proud of the way we ended the meet,” LSU coach Dennis Shaver said in a press release on Saturday. “It’s early in the season, so we were a little bit careful yesterday with some of the weather issues we faced during the day and how cold it got later in the evening. I thought we came back and competed really well today. Both our teams made their mark a little bit on this meet, and it gives us a foundation going forward this season.”
LSU junior LaMar Bruton, senior Fitzroy Dunkley, senior Cyril Grayson and junior Michael Cherry made up the men’s relay team. Junior Rushell Harvey, freshman Kortnei Johnson, freshman Rachel Misher and junior Jada Martin had the No. 10 fastest time in school history with their time of 1:31.30.
Harvey, Johnson, Martin and sophomore Mikiah Brisco took the track 4×100-Meter relay final to take the cake in second nationally with a time of 43.25 seconds.
Senior Shanice Hall surpassed her seasonal-best in the high jump to 5 feet, 8 ½ inches and tied for third place in the women’s university division.
Junior Nataliyah Friar was in the No. 3 nationally ranked position in the long jump with a jump of 20 feet, 8 ½ inches. She finished in second place.
“I’m happy that I was able to open up with a couple of solid jumps. I know bigger jumps are coming soon,” Friar said in a press release on Saturday. “I am just blessed that I was able to open up and take 12 full jumps without any pain and at least start out the (outdoor) season with some good, solid jumps. That’s what we were hoping for coming here.”
On Friday, despite a small weather delay, the Lady Tigers 4×100-meter relay team had to the fastest time of the day at 44.16 seconds and advanced to Saturday’s final. Texas natives Harvey and Johnson, as well as Martin and Brisco made up the women’s relay team.
The men also qualified for the final round on Saturday in the men’s sprint relay when they placed third with a time of 40.34 seconds. Junior Jordan Moore, freshman Jaron Flournoy, junior Tinashe Mutanga and junior Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake were a part of the men’s sprint relay team.
Friar also made the Top 5 of the NCAA rankings with a series-best in the triple jump with a length of 42 feet, 6 inches in the fifth round to place third. Friar placed third.
Junior Johnnie Jackson performed well early in the competition on Thursday for the Tigers as his personal-best throw 217 feet, 1 inch in the men’s hammer final landed in the top-five performances in program history. Jackson won third place finish in the event. He surpassed his previous personal-best with a mark of 208-6.
Seniors Patrick Geers and David Collins also made the top five. Geers with a throw of 207-11 for fourth place and Collins with 206-0 for fifth place.
“We didn’t have a lot going on today, but those who did compete did a great job,” LSU coach Dennis Shaver said in a press release on Thursday. “It’s early in the season, but I thought we looked pretty good running the (400) hurdles. We had a few ladies get through to the final, and that’s great to see in a competitive meet like this. Johnnie also had a good day throwing the hammer, particularly with the way he finished.”
Junior Cameron Robichaux achieved a personal-best performance when he cleared the bar at 16-7 ¼ to tie for sixth place in the C section of the men’s pole vault.
Lady Tigers senior Chanice Chase, junior Ka’Lyn Jupiter and sophomore Kymber Payne fastened spots in three lanes in the women’s final 400-meter hurdle on Friday. Chase was fifth with 57.87 seconds, Jupiter finished in sixth place clocked a personal-best at 57.99 and Payne ran in 58.40 seconds to claim seventh place.
LSU will look to keep the ball rolling when they host the Battle of the Bayou meet on April 9 at the Bernie Moore Track Stadium.