The LSU track and field team kicks off its championship season today at the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championship meet at Nutter Field House in Lexington, Ky.
LSU coach Dennis Shaver said he expects an NCAA Championship atmosphere at the meet, with five women’s teams and six men’s teams represented in the top 25. The Lady Tigers are ranked No. 2, while the Tigers come in ranked No. 3.
“We know that it’s going to be a tight battle on both sides, and we’ll need to compete all the way through the final events on Sunday before a team champion is crowned,” Shaver said in a news release.
The Tigers and Lady Tigers have a combined seven individuals and one relay team ranked No. 1 in the conference.
The reigning SEC champion Lady Tigers will be led by defending conference champions junior Kimberlyn Duncan and sophomore Jasmin Stowers. Duncan will look to defend her 200-meter dash title, and Stowers will try to repeat as 60-meter hurdles champion.
Duncan has captured 12 straight 200-meter dash titles against collegiate competition and is the reigning two-time SEC Athlete of the Week.
Sophomore Denise Hinton and junior Brittany Porter will pace the Lady Tigers in the field. Hinton will look to continue her torrid pace in the 20-pound weight throw, an event where she has broken her own school record in two consecutive meets.
“Our athletes have done a tremendous job of taking the necessary steps each weekend that have now put themselves in a position to compete during the championship season,” Shaver said.
Senior Barrett Nugent and junior Damar Forbes both hold SEC-leading performances for the Tigers — Nugent in the 60-meter hurdles and Forbes in the long jump. Forbes’ jump also leads the NCAA in the event this season.
The Tigers will look to improve upon a third-place finish last year, but will have to contend with both No. 1 Arkansas and No. 2 Florida. The Lady Tigers will also have stiff competition from the Razorbacks and Gators, ranked No. 4 and No. 6, respectfully.
“Each of the last six weekends have been spent building to this point of the season,” Shaver said.
For those athletes that do not qualify for the NCAA Championships, they will have one final chance at the LSU NCAA Indoor Qualifier in the Carl Maddox Field House on March 2. The NCAA Championships kick off in Nampa, Idaho on March 9.
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Contact Chandler Rome at [email protected]