The two-time defending national champion Lady Tigers will enter the NCAA Indoor Championships looking to bring in a third consecutive title.
The men will enter Fayetteville, Ark., looking for better results than their third-place finish last year. Both teams will be well-represented, and will send a combined 13 athletes and two relay teams.
“I’m pleased with the group we have qualified,” said LSU head coach Pat Henry. “I think the fact that Jeffrey Fisher, our own school record holder in the 800 meters, didn’t make the field speaks volumes about the quality of competition and how it just continues to get better each and every year.”
The Lady Tigers, who held on to their top ranking for all nine weeks rankings were recorded for the indoor season, will enter the Randal Tyson Track Center ranked No. 1.
Four-time All-American Nicole Toney will lead the Lady Tigers, competing in both the long jump and the triple jump.
All-American Muna Lee will defend her NCAA titles in both the 60 and 200-meter dashes.
The Lady Tigers, with 54 points, only have No. 2 Florida trailing closely behind with 53 points. The next three teams, Texas, Nebraska and Tennessee will enter with 45, 43 and 39 points, respectively.
The Tigers also have been consistent, never falling lower than No.4 the entire season. They will enter ranked No. 2.
All-Americans Kelly Willie and Pete Coley will likely join Robert Parham and Bennie Brazell in the 4×400-meter relay, as the four go after a second straight national championship in the event. Together they clocked the second-fastest time in collegiate history (3:03.97) last week at the Iowa State Last Chance Meet.
Tigers will enter trailing defending national champion Arkansas by 27 points. LSU, who has 43 points, is one point ahead of Southeastern Conference rival Florida, with 42 points.
Competition will begin Friday afternoon and winners will be crowned Saturday evening.
Henry said he is confident that both the men’s and women’s teams will be successful this week.
“We have a top group of athletes representing us on both sides,” Henry said. “And I think that if we can go in there, compete well and stay healthy, we have the ability to be among the that top group of finishers in both the men’s and women’s races.”