The University’s track teams began competition Wednesday in the NCAA Outdoor Track Championships in Sacramento, Calif. where LSU head coach Pat Henry looks for his 24th national title.
The Lady Tigers finished fourth-place last season in the outdoor championships while the men’s team took the national title in 2002.
The No. 1 Lady Tigers, who were the 2003 indoor national champions, have sent 13 team members to the four day competition.
Indoor 60-meter hurdles champion for 2003, Lolo Jones, said the large number of qualifyers gives the team a better chance this year.
“Last year there were four or five strong people trying to make points,” Jones said. “This year it’s so many people, it’s less pressure.”
Sprinter Muna Lee entered the meet with the top qualifying time in the 100-meters (11.04). Lee is the 2003 indoor national champion in the 100 and 200-meter dashes. She will try to repeat her performance in the outdoor competition.
RaNysha LeBlanc, an All-SEC selection in the 100-meter hurdles, will compete alongside Jones and Zamyal Jackson in the event.
Monique Hall, Stephanie Durst, Lee and Jones also will compete in the 4×100-meter relay. The relay team owns the world-leading mark in the event this season (42.63) and they are undefeated in the race to date.
In the field, Nicole Toney, LaToya Payne and Mallory McDonald, the LSU record-holder in the hammer will represent the University.
Toney is a three time All-American and the 2002 indoor national champion in the triple jump.
Payne is making her first trip to the NCAA’s after finishing fourth place in the long jump at the Mideast Regional Championships.
Henry’s national championships top every other coach in any sport in the Southeastern Conference.
Henry said annual trips to the national championships never lose their excitement.
“Just like a classroom teacher, the class changes every year,” Henry said. “This is a new group of people. That’s what makes it fun.”
Despite numerous national championship titles, Henry said the focus is not on winning the title.
Henry tells his athletes, “if you go up there and do what you did [to qualify] then we’ll be successful.”
Jones said despite the pressure, she remains focused on her individual performance.
“It’s easier than it sounds,” she said.
All-Americans Pete Coley, Kelly Willie and Robert Parham will race in the sprinting events for the men.
Coley finished third last year in the 400-meters event at the national championships.
Willie, although only in his freshmen season, earned All-American honors with his sixth place finish at the indoor meet.
Bennie Brazell returned to nationals in the 400-meter hurdles after finishing second nationally in the event last year. He earned the second place finish with a university record time of 48.80. This year he remains a top contender for the title.
In the field for the Tigers will be LeJuan Simon in the triple jump, All-American John Moffitt in the long and triple jump events and All-American Daniel Trosclair in the pole vault.
Moffitt is ranked third in the country in the long jump.