AUSTIN, Texas — Olympian Walter Davis won the men’s long jump title while the LSU relays looked sharp on day two of the Texas Relays at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
“I think we did about what we thought we could on the track today,” said LSU head coach Pat Henry. “We advanced well and put ourselves in position to be very productive tomorrow. Walter came up with a great effort today. He’s been very consistent for us and he knows how to rise to the occasion. He is a big meet performer and he delivered a championship-caliber performance today.”
Davis, the NCAA runner-up in the event, came up with his top legal mark of the young outdoor season, leaping to a winning effort of 26 feet 7 3/4 inches. The Leonville, La., native was the first Tiger to win the event since Mike Alridge in 1998.
On the track both short relays picked up the fastest qualifying times of the day.
Davis joined with Robert Parham, Pete Coley and Bennie Brazell to clock a very fast preliminary time of 39.35 seconds, well ahead of the rest of the field. The final will be contested on Saturday.
The Lady Tigers enjoyed similar success in the event and also posted the top qualifying time on the day. The foursome of Bianca Rockett, Lolo Jones, Stephanie Durst and Muna Lee combined to run a time of 44.37, just ahead of the 44.41 put up by Texas.
Saturday’s final appears to be a duel between the traditional rivals. LSU and Texas have combined to win seven of the last eight titles in the women’s 4×100-meter relay with LSU taking four of those including last year’s crown.
Elsewhere on the track Lee and Jones both came up with solid individual efforts. Lee advanced to the finals of the 100-meter dash, taking her heat in a time of 11.76 as very few fast times were turned in due to swirling winds at Myers Stadium. Lee’s time was the third fastest on the day.
Jones advanced to the 100-meter hurdles final by winning her heat in a time of 13.48. The sophomore All-American’s time was also the third fastest on the day.
Ranysha LeBlanc qualified for the final in the event as well, running a time of 13.81, the eighth fastest time on the day. Zamyal Jackson and Tiffany Robinson were unable to make the hurdles final.
The Lady Tigers’ 4×400-meter relay qualified for Saturday’s final, winning their heat comfortably. The group of Keioke Lutcher, Doria Appleberry, Marian Burnett and Ronetta Smith combined to post a time of 3:38.44, the sixth fastest time overall on the day.
Other results from the field events included a fourth place finish by Nicole Toney in the long jump. The NCAA champion in the triple jump, Toney came up with a mark of 20-1 3/4. Bianca Rockett finished sixth.
On the men’s side, All-American Traun Smith won the men’s long jump “B” section with a jump of 23-11 1/2.
The Texas Relays conclude on Saturday with finals in all relays and short sprints, while Davis will look to add to his already productive weekend by defending his triple jump title.