CLAREMONT, Calif. — The top-ranked Lady Tigers and the seventh-ranked Tiger track teams will split and compete in two different meets this weekend as select athletes will participate in the Mt. SAC Relays in Claremont, April 17-19, and other members of the LSU squad will compete in the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational, April 18 in Walnut.
“The Mt. SAC Relays has a real ‘big meet’ atmosphere,” said LSU head coach Pat Henry. “Year in and year out it is a great competition that always proves to be one of the best meets in the country.
“We have high expectations coming into the meet,” said Henry, “But we are also keeping in mind where we are in the season and the fact that we have another big meet, in the Penn Relays, coming up next weekend.”
LSU will begin competition Thursday at the Mt. SAC Relays as the distance carnival and selected field events get underway. Ryan Gallup and Jimmy Wiggins are expected to make their season debuts in the 10,000 meters, while Kenny Henry looks to shave a few seconds off his season-best time in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and earn a bid to the NCAA Regionals.
In the field events, All-American Daniel Trosclair will challenge the competition in the pole vault and junior Katie McKeever will start things off for the Lady Tigers in the discus.
On Friday, action from the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational will begin at 11:30 a.m. (CST) with both the field and running events. LSU will warm-up some of its individuals as well as its relay teams at this meet before they compete for a second time in two days at the Mt. SAC Relays on Saturday.
“This setup allows us to prepare for the end of the season,” said Henry. “With the regional meet and nationals designed they way they are athletes are expected to compete in as many as four and five rounds of competition. Besides allowing us to also get some extra work in, this situation will help prepare us for those situations.”
LSU will conclude the weekend’s competition Saturday at the Mt. SAC Relays. Field events will begin at 11:50 a.m. and running events will follow at noon.
The Tigers and Lady Tigers will continue the season next weekend when they travel to Philadelphia, Pa., for the prestigious Penn Relays, April 24-26.
LSU will then conclude the regular season at its own Tiger Twilight Classic, May 3.