NEW ORLEANS — LSU’s most promising young class of runners in recent history will make their collegiate debut Friday at the Tulane Invitational in New Orleans’ Lake Oak Park.
Tiger and Lady Tiger cross country coach Mark Elliot will reserve his veterans for Friday’s race to observe the less experienced runners.
“Since I’ve been coaching this is probably the best set of freshmen I’ve had,” Elliott said. “We’re still trying to work out all the kinks. I’ve only been coaching them for three weeks. This meet will confirm my expectations of them.”
Daniel Sayko, who won three high school state championships before arriving at LSU, will be one of the freshmen competing.
“Sayko was one of the best athletes in the state last year,” said Elliott.
LSU will be among nine teams competing. Southern Miss will join in-state teams from Tulane, Louisiana Tech, Xavier, Loyola, Southeastern Louisiana, Nicholls State and UL-Lafayette.
“This is a very important meet,” Elliott said. “We are usually pretty competitive, and I expect us to be in this meet. It’s a good course for Louisiana.”
The women’s two-mile race will begin at 5 p.m. The men’s three-mile race starts at 5:30 p.m.