FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — LSU junior Walter Davis picked up his second victory of the weekend on Saturday afternoon, claiming the men’s long jump title on day two of the Tyson Invitational at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark.
Davis, who won the triple jump on Friday evening, won the long jump on Saturday afternoon with a jump of 25 feet 9 inches. The mark is just off his best jump of the season. Davis, who posted the mark on his second attempt, defeated a star-studded field that included Olympians Robert Howard, Melvin Lister and Dwight Phillips.
Davis was one of only a handful of LSU athletes to compete on the day, as the second day of competition was primarily reserved for elite level athletes. A number of athletes with LSU ties, however, posted impressive results on Saturday, however.
“I know he’s posted better marks, but I’m more impressed with the way he competed,” said LSU head coach Pat Henry. “There were a lot of great athletes in the field today and Walter wrapped up a great weekend with another nice performance.”
Former Tiger All-American David Kiptoo won the men’s 800-meter title, defeating fellow Kenyan and former Arkansas All-American James Karanu in a tight finish, posting a time of 1:47.64.
The 1996 NCAA 200-meter champion Rohsaan Griffin finished third in the men’s 200-meter dash with a time of 21.04.
The 2000 NCAA pole vault champion Russ Buller returned to the site of his NCAA indoor victory a year ago and looked strong, clearing 18-8 to finish fourth in one of the top competitions of the afternoon.
Joyce Bates, the 2000 NCAA 100-meter hurdles champion while in an LSU uniform a year ago, finished fourth in the 60-meter hurdles in a time of 8.33 in her first competition of the season. Olympic bronze medalist Melissa Morrison won the event in a time of 8.04.
LSU returns to action on Friday evening at the Carl Maddox Field House, as it hosts the LSU Twilight in its final tune-up before the SEC Indoor Championships on Feb. 24-25.