AUSTIN, Texas — Two NCAA leading marks by national champions Muna Lee and Lolo Jones headlined second-day action for the LSU track and field team at the 76th annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays Friday.
“Beginning to end we had an absolutely great day,” said LSU head coach Pat Henry. “Anytime you have athletes running the best times in the nation you have to be pleased. I feel like we accomplished what we set out to do today and have put ourselves into a great position heading into tomorrow’s competition.”
Running her first 100-meter race of the season, Lee dominated the field in the preliminary rounds, posting a blistering time of 11.14. Her PR mark not only leads the nation this season, but ranks sixth all-time in LSU school history.
Jones registered the NCAA’s top time in the 100-meter hurdles this season, recording a mark of 13.05 during the prelims. Jones will look to better that mark Saturday when she runs in the event final.
In additional prelim action, LSU advanced both its 4×100-meter relay teams into the final round of competition. The foursome of Stephanie Durst, Monique Hall, Jones and Lee combined to post the meet’s fastest first-day time in the event (43.82), while the men’s team registered a mark of 40.43 to qualify to the finals in the No. 7 spot.
The women’s 4×400-meter relay team advanced to the finals as well. Nadia Davy, Neisha Bernard-Thomas, Stephanie Butler and Hazelann Regis posted the third fastest time of the day, 3:34.76, and the foursome’s fastest time of the season.
In the sprint medley relay, the Lady Tigers ran to a second-place finish, clocking a time of 3:45.65. Host Texas edged LSU in the final 30 meters of the race to win the event with a time of 3:44.39.
Led by junior All-American John Moffitt LSU also had a productive day in the field events. Making his outdoor debut in the long jump, Moffitt finished second with a leap of 26-3 3/4. He was edged by Southern’s Brian Johnson who won the competition with a distance of 26-5.
In section B of the men’s long jump competition, senior Traun Smith posted a second-place finish of his own, jumping 24-10 1/2.
On the women’s side, LaToya Payne finished third in the long jump with a season-best 20-7 3/4 effort, while Nicole Toney placed 10th with a regional qualifying mark of 19-7.
In the high jump, Shontae Harris turned in her best mark of the outdoor season, 5-7, to place fourth overall.
Following the conclusion of the Texas Relays, Saturday, the LSU track and field team will return to Baton Rouge to host the Alumni Gold Invitational, April 11-12.