PARIS — Former LSU track standout Claston Bernard sits in fourth place in the men’s decathlon after one day of competition at the ninth IAAF World Championships.
Bernard, the 2002 NCAA champion in the decathlon, turned in an impressive first day performance finishing among the field’s top seven in three on the five events. Bernard’s highest finish was a fourth-place showing in the 100-meter dash, where he clocked a time of 10.91 seconds.
The St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, native also saw success in the field, finishing tied for sixth in the high jump (6-8) and seventh in the shot put (50-6).
Bernard will conclude his decathlon competition Wednesday, competing in the 110-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1,500-meter run.
Other athletes with LSU ties wrapping up competition at the World Championships were quarter-milers Alleyne Francique, Hazelann Regis and Ronetta Smith.
Francique, a six-time All-American while competing for the Tigers, finished eighth in the finals of the men’s 400 meters, registering a time of 45.48.
Smith and Regis both advanced to the semifinals of the women’s open quarter placing 13th (51.39) and 20th (51.95), respectively, to miss out on the automatic bid to the finals.
Still awaiting competition at the World Championships are former Lady Tiger Laverne Eve and volunteer assistant coach Kim Kreiner. Both will participate in the qualification rounds of the women’s javelin Thursday, Aug. 28.
Eve, the 1987 NCAA champion in the javelin, is LSU’s current school record holder in the event, while Kreiner is coming off a U.S. record setting victory at the Pan American Games just three weeks ago.