LINCOLN, Neb. – The LSU track and field team wrapped up a solid weekend at the 26th annual Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational in Lincoln, Neb., as Peta-Gaye Dowdie, Keisha Spencer and Russ Buller all broke meet records and took national leads in their signature events.
“It’s the time of the year that some big things have to happen and it’s apparent some big things are happening,” said LSU coach Pat Henry. “When you look at what we were able to accomplish, it was definitely a productive weekend for us.”
Dowdie blew away the field in the women’s 60-meter dash, running an NCAA automatic qualifying time of 7.24 seconds, the second fastest time of her career. The time broke the previous meet record of 7.29 and moved past NCAA leader Tonya Carter of Florida State who ran a 7.27 last week. Sa’Donna Thornton finished fourth, while Jemia Ellis finished sixth.
Dowdie already owned the national lead in the 200-meter dash after running an NCAA automatic 23.48 in Gainesville, Fla., last weekend.
Spencer beat a loaded field in the women’s triple jump with a personal best mark of 46-0, the fourth best jump in NCAA history. Spencer becomes only the fourth woman in NCAA history to reach the elusive 46-foot barrier. Former Lady Tiger All-American and national champion Suzette Lee owns the NCAA mark with a jump of 46-9 set in 1997.
Pole vaulter Russ Buller got back on track after no-heighting at Florida a week ago, winning the men’s title with an NCAA leading mark of 18-2 1/2. Buller, who was previously tied for the national lead at 18-0 1/2, broke the nine-year-old meet record of 18-1 1/4.
Buller came in at 17-10 1/2 and negotiated the height on his first attempt. After clearing 18-2 1/2 on his second attempt, he raised the bar to 18-8 1/4 to try and break Pat Manson’s building record, but could not clear the height despite two near clearances.
“I felt good from my first clearance today,” said Buller. “I thought I had 18-8 1/4 on my first attempt but I just missed it. I didn’t clear 18-2 1/2 until SECs last year so I feel like, despite last week, I’m ahead of where I was a year ago at this time.”
Defending NCAA 60-meter hurdles champion Joyce Bates finished second to Kirstin Bolm on Brigham Young in her signature event. Bates got out of the blocks well and led until the final two hurdles, but Bolm caught her from behind, winning with a time of 8.13 to the 8.16 registered by Bates. Bolm’s time is the second fastest in the nation this year.
Sophomore sprinter Jemia Ellis finished second in the women’s 200-meter dash with an indoor personal best time of 24.56.
In the men’s 60-meter hurdles, Greg Scott matched his performanceof Friday, running 7.94 to finish third.
LSU returns to action on Friday with the LSU Twilight at the Carl Maddox Field House.