More athletes qualify for NCAA Indoors
Track and Field
   The LSU men’s and women’s track and field teams competed Friday in their final indoor meet before the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships.
Both teams fared well in the contest, which was a good chance for the athletes to post NCAA qualifying marks.
On the women’s side, sophomore Stephanie Durst received an NCAA provisional mark in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.39 seconds.
Senior Ronetta Smith won the 200-meter dash with a provisional time of 24.22.
Sophomore Stephanie Butler finished first in the 400-meter dash with a time of 58.39, but failed to qualify.
In hurdles, sophomore Tiffany Robinson won the 60-meter event, but missed the provisional mark by one-hundredth second.
The Lady Tiger team of Butler, sophomore Kieoike Lutcher, and freshmen Doria Appleberry and Brandy Walker won the 400-meter relay.
Sophomore Nicole Toney won the long jump with a provisional mark of 6.17 meters.
Three LSU athletes – senior Bianca Rockett, junior Andria Booker and sophomore Ashley Gardner – posted provisional marks in the triple jump.
Freshman Mallory McDonald and junior Candice Gonzalez finished first and second, respectively, with provisional marks in the 20-lb. weight throw.
McDonald’s throw of 18.8 meters set an LSU record in the event.
The men did not perform nearly as well as the women.
Senior Javier Nieto received the only provisional mark for the men’s team by finishing first in the weight throw with a distance of 19.68 meters.
Both teams will travel to Fayetteville, Ark. Friday for the SEC Indoor Championships.
Tennis
  The No. 17 LSU men’s tennis team lost its first road match, 5-2, Saturday to 2nd-ranked Illinois in Champaign, Ill.
The Tigers (3-1) could not overcome the continuous onslaught of the Illini (5-1), losing several close matches.
The Illini took the doubles point with victories by the No. 17 doubles pair Nathan Zeder and Mike Kosta and the No. 37 pair Brian Wilson and Phil Stolt.
In singles action, LSU won matches in the second and third positions with victories by No. 42 Dan Kiernan and No. 85 Brian Fisher.
Fisher pulled off the upset of No. 23 Stolt, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5, while Kiernan defeated No. 77 Wilson due to injury.
LSU’s Peter Richman, Sebastian Rutka, Jason Hazley and Cory Ross were unable to defeat their opponents.
The Tigers will return home to face Louisiana-Monroe next Tuesday at 2 p.m.in the W.T. “Dub” Robinson Tennis Stadium.
The women’s tennis team hosted 19th-ranked Texas A&M Sunday at the Tennis Stadium.
The Aggies (6-1) pulled off the victory against the Lady Tigers (7-2).
A&M got off to an early start by winning all three doubles matches for the doubles point.
The Lady Tigers could only split the six singles matches, losing 4-3.
Bruna Colosio fought back to defeat No. 73 Jessica Roland in the first position, 3-6, 6-4, 6 4.
No. 87 Tami Botts defeated A&M’s Martina Nedorastova, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0.
Amanda Mang overcame Roberta Spencer, 6-3, 6-1, on the fourth court.
Rocio Fantilli, Amy McIlhaney and Perri Budd were unable to beat their Aggie opponents.
The Lady Tigers will open the Southeastern Conference season on March 2 when they host No. 25 Alabama.
Ronnie Richard