The LSU track and field team will have its final chance to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championship meet when it hosts the LSU Indoor Qualifier at the Carl Maddox Field House today at 2 p.m.
LSU coach Dennis Shaver was pleased with his team’s performance coming off the Southeastern Conference Championship meet, even though neither the Tigers nor the Lady Tigers could bring home a championship.
“We wanted to make a run at the titles, but we also wanted to position ourselves with more people going to the NCAA championship, which we did,” Shaver said.
Shaver said today’s meet is reserved for only six athletes who have NCAA-qualifying times that could be considered “on the bubble.” He added that shaving as little as .02 seconds could better an athlete’s chances of getting into the meet.
Junior sprinter Takeia Pinckney will run the 60-meter dash for the No. 4 Lady Tigers. She said her nerves won’t be a factor, and running a qualifying time is her top priority.
“I’m not really nervous,” Pinckney said. “I’ll just be more eager because I know I have to make it to nationals to help my team out,”
Shaver also pointed to senior pole vaulter Rachel Laurent as someone who could provide a surprise. Laurent is in a tie for No. 13 in the nation in the pole vault.
“There’s always someone who surprises us at this meet who gets in and we don’t expect it,” Shaver said. “It’s usually in the jumps.”
Senior Keyth Talley will try to qualify in the 60-meter dash for the No. 4 Tigers. Fellow senior Michael Lauro will also attempt to improve his No. 18 NCAA rank in the weight throw.
Also trying to qualify is freshman Aaron Ernest, who placed second in the 200-meter dash in his first career SEC final. Shaver said Ernest had early-season troubles adjusting to the rigors of collegiate track and field and traveling, but was not surprised at the freshman’s performance.
“By resting him for the SEC meet, he was able to show some real significant improvement,” Shaver said. “He’s gained a lot of confidence as the season went on.”
Ernest and senior Riker Hylton will both compete at the Indoor Qualifier at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Shaver said it would have been impossible for the pair to get qualifying times on their home track. Shaver said the rest of the team will continue training in advance of the NCAA meet, adding that it will give the athletes a much-needed break after being on the road for six of the last seven weeks.
The NCAA Championship Meet begins March 9 in Nampa, Idaho.
____
Contact Chandler Rome at [email protected]