Tracksters perform in last ditch
In quite literally their “last-ditch” effort, several LSU track and field athletes will get to enhance their chances of qualifying for NCAA Indoor Championships this afternoon at the LSU Last Ditch at 3 p.m.
The top-ranked Lady Tigers and third ranked Tigers have already attained 12 NCAA automatic qualifying marks heading into the Indoor Championships and with seven high provisional marks pending entry into the meet.
“I think the picture is a little clearer for us this year than maybe it has been in the past,” said head coach Pat Henry. “We’ve qualified very well so far, and I think it will really help us next week to be able to rest some people and not worry about having to qualify a high number of athletes this weekend.”
The NCAA Indoor Championships will be held at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark., next Friday and Saturday.
As fate would have it, this is the same facility that was very generous to LSU last weekend when the men’s and women’s teams combined to win eight events at the SEC Indoor Championships.
“It’s one last chance to line up and get it done,” Henry said. “Every year this meet alters the shape of the NCAA Indoor Championships because somebody steps up with the pressure of not making the field staring them in the face. This meet has been very productive for us in the past, and it will be for many of the other teams coming in as well.”
Productive indeed as the Tigers are defending NCAA Indoor champions. Meanwhile the Lady Tigers finished 14th a year ago but hope to accomplish more — going in ranked No. 1.
Patrick Foy