The LSU track and field team looks to continue advancing in the NCAA top-10 rankings as it travels to compete in the Texas Invitational on Saturday at the Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
“We would expect it to be a little more low-key going back to Austin this weekend than what we’ve come to expect at the Texas Relays over the years,” said LSU coach Dennis Shaver in a news release. “But the quality of competition will still be there when you look at the teams and entries that are in the meet.”
On April 9, five Tigers and Lady Tigers made the top-10 national rankings after competing at the Battle on the Bayou Meet at the Bernie Moore Track Stadium.
The five LSU athletes included senior Chanice Chase, juniors Morgan Schuetz, Jada Martin, Tinashe Mutanga and sophomore Kymber Payne.
Schuetz finished third overall in the 800 meters with a time of 2:04.33. She finished the 1,500-meter race in 4:24.14.
Martin placed ninth, posting a time of 23.06 seconds in the 200-meter dash.
Chase had two of the fastest hurdle times in the nation with 13.04 seconds in the women’s 100-meter hurdles, finishing in second place. She moved into the third-ranked national spot when she accomplished a season-best time of 56.66 seconds to win the women’s 400-meter hurdles.
Payne tied No. 6 spot for the NCAA’s rankings in the 400-meter hurdles, with a career-best of 57.33 seconds.
Mutanga also achieved a personal-best in the 100-meter dash, with a time of 10.29 seconds , placing third.
Senior Fitzroy Dunkley was one of 19 athletes to earn a personal-best score. He achieved a career-best of 20.94 seconds in the 200-meter dash.
“I feel good,” Dunkley said. “I’m just trying to put a string of performances together … I’m in good shape. I just do what coach tells me to do, and when I open up in the 400 [meter dash], hopefully it’s a good one.”
LSU also earned four event wins at the meet.
Looking to earn an event win for his team is junior sprinter Tremayne Acy, who has sat out since the Southeastern Conference Championships on Feb. 26 and 27. Acy is returning to join the men’s 4×100-meter relay team.
He will be joining fellow freshman sprinter Jaron Flournoy, junior Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake and Mutanga.
The Tigers placed second in the men’s 4×100-meter relay final at the Battle on the Bayou, with a run of 39.59 seconds. Junior Jordan Moore, Flournoy, Mitchell-Blake and Mutanga made up the team.
“As far as preparation, we’ve been doing light speed work to stay ready for this weekend,” Acy said. “It’s a big weekend, a lot of competition and my first week back because I’ve been hurt … it’s very exciting. It feels like it’s one of my first meets when I came to college.”