The LSU track and field teams will try to carry over the last decade’s success as they kick off their indoor season today at the Carl Maddox Field House in Baton Rouge for the 2010 Purple Tiger Invitational. The Tigers will try to replicate the precedent set by the 2000s, which saw three separate LSU runners crowned 100-meter dash NCAA champion and a combined nine NCAA indoor and outdoor team championships by the men and women. The event starts at noon with the men’s weight throw, where junior thrower Walter Henning looks to continue his dominance of the competition. Henning, who transferred to LSU from North Carolina following his freshman year, displayed rare power last season and shattered two LSU marks on his way to finishing as the runner-up in the hammer throw at the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Henning set a meet record in the weight throw at last season’s Purple Tiger Invitational, his first meet at LSU. Henning launched the 35-pound weight 72 feet, 3 3/4 inches, which bested the previous LSU record by 4 1/4 inches. It was only Henning’s second throw as a Tiger. Henning beat his record later in the season when he threw the weight 74 feet, 5 1/2 inches. The effort was good enough to earn Henning the Southeastern Conference championship in the event. Henning’s dominance in the field events are welcome for LSU coach Dennis Shaver, but several other athletes are also primed for big performances in the meet. ‘Our athletes have been looking forward to this day for a long time now. They are ready to compete,’ Shaver said in a news release. ‘We’ve had an outstanding training session, as good as we’ve had since I’ve been the head coach, and our athletes have done a tremendous job of preparing themselves for a day like today.’ The No. 9 Tigers are also counting on the continued stellar contributions of two-time All-American Will Coppage in the long jump. The Alexandria native will try to best his personal record of 25 feet, 7 1/4 inches he set last year at New Balance Invitational in New York. The No. 3 Lady Tigers enter the indoor season as one of the favorites to claim a national title. Senior Samantha Henry and junior Kenyanna Wilson figure to be cogs to the success of the Lady Tigers this season. Henry and Wilson have combined for 13 All-American awards, and five SEC individual championships. Both Henry and Wilson will compete for the 60-meter dash. Senior Trindon Holliday, the 2009 NCAA 100-meter dash champion, is not competing in the event. Holliday has used up his eligibility for the outdoor season and will begin competing later in the indoor season. LSU travels to Albuquerque, N.M., for the Lobo Opener on Saturday, Jan. 30, after the Purple Tiger Invitational. – – – – Contact Luke Johnson at [email protected]