The top-ranked LSU track and field team will be competing in the LSU Alumni Gold at Bernie Moore Tack Stadium beginning at 4 p.m. today, continuing at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday.
Coach Pat Henry said this meet will give the team the chance to relax.
“We want to compete hard through this meet,” Henry said. “We’re not going to overdo it with anybody this week. We’re going to try to focus in on one effort. On some of our key people maybe one effort to try to let them do some things for themselves individually. We’re not going to overload anyone this week.”
Henry also said this meet will help the team prepare for tough upcoming meets.
“Philadelphia and conference meets are coming up and those meets demand a lot more out of you,” Henry said. “This meet is one we want to try to do some good things at. It gets you in a situation where you can do some concentrations on your single event this weekend. We’re going to do what’s best for this group. That might be two events for somebody or one event for someone else. It might be three events for one person. It’s an evaluation weekend so that we can see where we’re at and get some good competition.”
LeJuan Simon, who competes in the triple jump and long jump for the Tigers, said he needs a break from triple jump.
“I’m just doing long jump this weekend,” Simon said. “No triple jump, I need a break from triple jump right now to work on my long jump.”
Simon said he wants to be able to accomplish his goal of jumping eight meters.
“I think I’ve qualified for regionals already but I haven’t jumped over eight meters yet so I’m working towards jumping that,” Simon said. “I feel really good about it. As far as my training goes, I’ve been doing what I need to do so I just need to go out there and do it.”
Nicole Toney, who competes in the same events for the Lady Tigers, said she is taking this week to heal injuries but will compete for the rest of the season.
“I’m a little banged up from the season,” Toney said. “[I will be competing] at Penn and for the rest of the season.”
Toney said she knows what she has to improve.
“[I need to] get my runway right,” Toney said.
Competing at the meet will be Southeastern Conference foes Alabama and Kentucky, as well as Tulane, UL-Lafayette and Southeastern.
Several former LSU athletes will be competing as well.
Alleyene Francique will compete in the 200-meter dash. Walter Davis will compete in the long jump and 100-meter dash.
After the LSU Alumni Gold, the track and field team will go to Philadelphia, Pa., to compete in the Penn Relays held on April 22-23.