PHILADELPHIA — The LSU track and field team got off to a strong start on day one of the Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, advancing both relays that competed while also setting two school records.
Under near-perfect sunny and warm conditions in Philadelphia, LSU was at its best in limited action on Thursday.
“We were really sharp today, we really came out and did what we expected and maybe even a little bit more,” said LSU head coach Pat Henry. “We did well advancing our relays on the track, we had a pair of school records in other areas. This was the kind of start we needed to the weekend and hopefully we’ll build on it.”
The third-ranked Lady Tigers looked solid on both relays Thursday afternoon, posting the fastest time in the preliminary rounds of the 4×100-meter relay while advancing in the 4×400-meter relay as well.
The Lady Tigers’ foursome of Sa’Donna Thornton, Stephanie Durst, Myra Combs and Muna Lee easily blew through their preliminary heat, posting a time of 43.99 seconds to earn the top seed for Friday’s final.
If the conditions hold up as they did on Thursday, LSU, South Carolina, Texas and Florida will all battle to break the two-year-old meet record of 43.33 held by Texas.
The Lady Tigers also advanced to Saturday’s 4×400-meter relay final by virtue of a season-best NCAA provisional time of 3:35.06 in their preliminary round. The group of Stephanie Durst, Xyllena Lynch, Combs and Ronetta Smith finished second in their heat to South Carolina, who posted the fastest qualifying time on the day.
Heading into the third leg of the mile relay, the Lady Tigers’ found themselves in fifth place before Myra Combs moved them all the way to second place with a blazing 51.66 split.
Smith, the current NCAA leader at 400-meters made a valiant attempt to catch defending NCAA quarter mile champion Miki Barber of South Carolina, but fell just short despite a 52.96 anchor leg.
Elsewhere on the track, Susanne Strunz came up with a major breakthrough in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, running a high NCAA provisional and school-record time of 10:22.63, just over two seconds off the automatic standard, to finish fifth. Even more impressive, Friday evening’s race was only the second time Strunz had ever competed in the event, as she lowered her school record time by 18 seconds.
The time by the sophomore from Germany put her in position to be the Lady Tigers’ first distance NCAA qualifier since the 1998 indoor season.
“That was an incredible performance by Susanne,” said Henry. “It’s only the second time she’s ever run that event, it just goes to show what kind of potential she has in that event.”
Candice Gonzalez continued to edge closer and closer to the NCAA provisional standard in the hammer throw. The sophomore finished third with a school record throw of 183 feet 3 inches. The mark is just six inches shy of the NCAA provisional standard. Bianca Rockett finished second in the women’s long jump with a mark of 19-11.
LSU will have its busiest day of competition on Friday, as the Lady Tigers prepare for the 4×100-meter final, while running in prelims of the 4×200 meter relay. The Tigers open their quest for the 4×100 and 4×400-meter titles on Friday.
Individually, NCAA 100-meter leader Muna Lee begins preliminary action of the short sprint and will attempt to become LSU’s first champion in the event since Peta-Gaye Dowdie in 1998, while All-American Lolo Jones will compete in the 100-meter hurdle prelims. In the field, Walter Davis will battle NCAA champion Savante Stringfellow of Ole Miss in the men’s long jump.