LSU failed to post any NCAA championship automatic qualifying marks at its Twilight Invitational on Friday, but it was all part of the plan according to LSU head coach Pat Henry.
“Everybody ran about what we’ve been running with the people we put on the track,” Henry said.
Henry said he held out some of LSU’s top competitors because of health concerns, which was one reason the Tigers did not do better. He also said the quality of the competition in the meet paled in comparison with the competition in the past couple of meets.
“The level of competition more times than not dictates what happens especially in our sport.” Henry said. “By plan this level of competition is exactly what it was tonight.”
LSU did manage first-place finishes in seven events, including two NCAA championship provisional qualifying marks. Overall, Henry liked the Tigers’ performance.
“Other people got on the track and looked good tonight,” Henry said. “[Daniel] Trosclair had the best event of the day in the pole vault and moved up that list nationally.”
Trosclair, a junior, placed first in the event for LSU with a vault of 5.35 meters. The performance currently ranks No. 10 in the NCAA and marks the second time Trosclair has met the NCAA provisional mark of 5.30 meters. Joe Lochridge also earned first place for the Tigers in the shot put launch of 16.83 meters.
The Tigers’ 4×400-relay team earned LSU’s only first-place finish in a track event for the meet. The LSU ‘B’ team finished nearly three seconds ahead of Texas A&M-Kingsville with a time of 3:13.95.
For the Lady Tigers, Mallory McDonald took first place in the weight throw with a distance of 18.98 meters, which met the provisional mark. Katie McKeever also won the shot put for LSU with a throw of 14.68 meters.
LaToya Payne added another gold medal performance for LSU in the field events by taking the long jump event with a distance of 6.11 meters.
Lolo Jones, an LSU junior, continued to dominate the 60-meter dash at the meet. She claimed first place with a time of 7.39 seconds winning the only track event for the Lady Tigers.
Henry said this weekend’s meet accomplished its purpose. However, he knows the Tigers have to work out the kinks for next weekend’s big Southeastern Conference meet.
“We had a couple of things that were very good for us in this meet,” Henry said. “The SEC is next week, and we’ve got to be ready to step up.”