Lorena Rangel Batres is a Mexican track athlete at LSU. She is finishing her collegiate career, preparing for her final season as a Tiger.

Mexico is a country where track athletes suffer from lack of support. Luckily for Lorena, she was offered an opportunity that she couldn’t say no to.

“I was contacted by my coach Houston Franks, he told me about LSU, which I had no idea about. Told me I could get a degree while running track in the highest level.”

All this happened after having some great results in the Mexican Track & Field National Championship.

“I had no idea I was going to be contacted by my coach or that a coach in the U.S. would be interested in me. It was unexpected, but at the same time I was very happy and grateful for the results. Coming into the season in 2019 I didn’t knew I was about to win three national championships.”

Distance track athletes have the busiest calendar at LSU, competing in three different seasons for the entire school year.

“We have cross country season during the fall semester, then indoor season early spring and outdoor season during the rest of the spring semester. It is a long season.”

Rangel’s season doesn’t end there. She returns to Mexico every summer, always focused on working towards her goals.
“That’s my goal to represent it, in the biggest stages like World Championship, Panamerican Games, Central American Games, and the Olympics.”

Lorena is heading to her last indoor season, with excitement and prepared for her final sprint as a tiger.
“In preparation for the indoor season, I am very excited, I know it’s going to be my last one, one of my goals is to make it to Nationals. I’m very excited and at the same time grateful, trying to wrap up my head around the fact that it’s going to be my last time racing at LSU.”

Rangel is a great example of how giving opportunities to international can change their lives, and help them succeed.