BATON ROUGE — A trio of NCAA automatic qualifying marks by Mallory McDonald, Nicole Toney and John Moffitt highlighted another outstanding performance by the LSU track and field team at the Bayou Bengal Invitational Friday.
For the second consecutive week McDonald set a school record in the weigh throw as she recorded an NCAA automatic mark of 65-2 3/4 in the event to win the meet title. The mark, which ranks as the fifth best in the nation this season, was almost a foot better then the previous school record mark of 64-5 she set a week ago at the Purple Tiger Invitational.
Toney and Moffitt dominated the triple jump competition as both topped the collegiate field with their NCAA automatic qualifying distances. Toney’s jump of 43-5 3/4 currently ranks No. 1 in the nation, while Moffitt’s leap of 53-3 ranks second in the country behind teammate LeJuan Simon’s nation leading 53-9 1/4 mark.
In the running events, LSU swept the 60 meters as Tania Woods took first on the women’s side (7.57) and Skylar Green won the men’s crown (6.82).
The 60-meter hurdles saw Lolo Jones record an NCAA provisional mark of 8.28 in the prelims and later win the event with a time of 8.35 in the finals.
Adrian Mayes topped the field in the event as well, clocking 8.07 in just his first outing this season.
Monique Hall won gold of her own posting a time of 24.95 in the 200 meters, while LaToya Payne rounded out LSU’s individual champions winning the long jump title (20-3).
In addition, the Tigers and Lady Tigers both brought home gold in the distance medley relay as the men clocked 10:13.38 and the women posted a time of 12:29.35.
The LSU track and field team returns to action Sunday, Feb. 9 when it travels to Gainesville, Fla. for the Gator Invitational.