BATON ROUGE — Despite using a limited roster, the LSU men’s and women’s track and field teams looked sharp as they opened the outdoor season, as the two teams combined to win 17 events at the SEC Triangular at Bernie Moore Stadium Saturday afternoon, while Claston Bernard wrapped up another decathlon victory at the College Station Multis at Texas A&M late Friday night.
Both the Tigers and Lady Tigers finished second to Florida in the team scoring at the SEC Quadrangular, but LSU head coach Pat Henry was extremely encouraged with what he saw.
“I think a lot of positive things happened out there today,” said Henry. “It was an opportunity to move outdoors and get on the track but we still did some pretty good things. We rested some key people but those athletes that got an opportunity to compete today did very well.”
LSU recorded two NCAA provisional qualifying marks on the day. Javier Nieto won the men’s hammer with a provisional toss of 207 feet 2 inches, while the Lady Tigers’ 4×100-meter relay registered a high provisional time of 44.49 seconds in victory.
Sa’Donna Thornton, who ran a strong opening leg on the Lady Tigers’ short relay, also picked up a convincing win in the 100-meter dash, posting a time of 11.59.
Both teams were extremely impressive in the throws and distance events on Saturday, as in addition to Nieto’s provisional mark, Candice Gonzalez broke the LSU record in the women’s hammer by more than 28 feet. The sophomore won the event with a throw of 182-8, just off the NCAA provisional standard and improving upon her previous school record of 154-2 a year ago.
Newcomer Neely Falgout won the women’s javelin with a throw of 143-0, heading a 1-2-3 sweep for the Lady Tigers, while Keith Nunez won the men’s event with a personal best throw of 194-9.
LSU picked up 1,500-meter wins by Suzanne Strunz in the women’s event, and Billy Bohlke in the men’s event. Brent Martin won the men’s 800-meter run, while Xyllena Lynch looked strong in a second place finish in the women’s half mile.
Likhaya Dayile came up with an impressive showing in the men’s 5,000-meter run, winning the event by an astounding 31-second margin, posting a winning time of 14:31.76.
Elsewhere on the track, April Sams won the 100-meter hurdles, while the men’s 4×100-meter relay team picked up a win.
In the field, LSU got victories from Traun Smith in both the men’s long and triple jumps, Bianca Rockett in the women’s triple jump and Daniel Trosclair in the pole vault.
In the team competition, Florida won the women’s event with 149 points, while LSU totaled 139 and Ole Miss 76. Florida took the men’s competition with 126 points, while LSU posted 109 and Ole Miss 76.
At Texas A&M late Friday evening, Bernard continued his ascent to the top of the men’s decathlon scene with a victory at the College Station Multis.
The 2000 NCAA runner-up came up with an NCAA automatic qualifying mark of 7,833 points to defend his title at Texas A&M. His winning total was more than 300 points higher than his winning mark a year ago and is a new personal best and Jamaican national record.
LSU returns to action next Saturday when both teams travel to Los Angeles to compete in a dual meet with track powerhouse Southern California.