NEW YORK, N.Y. — All-American John Moffitt set the school record in the long jump for the second time in two weeks Friday, jumping an LSU all- time best 27-1 3/4 to win event gold at the 4th Annual Armory Invitational.
Moffitt, whose mark ranks as the best in the NCAA and the United States this season, is the first athlete in LSU history to surpass the 27-foot mark in the indoor long jump.
“John just keeps getting a little bit better each week,” said LSU head coach Pat Henry. “He is a great competitor that has some goals in mind. He has become more consistent this season and that has allowed him to put forth such great efforts.”
Senior LeJuan Simon also turned in a solid effort in the long jump, finishing third with a provisional qualifying mark of 25-1 1/4.
In the women’s competition, Nicole Toney recorded a third-place finish of her own, jumping a season-best 20-2 1/2.
In other field event action, throwers Mallory McDonald and Britney Henry finished 1-2 in the women’s weight throw competition. McDonald’s NCAA provisional toss of 63-0 ranks as her second-best of the season, while Henry’s distance of 59-4 marked a new PR.
LSU was also impressive in the distance events as juniors Sam Mwampe and Katie Denton recorded all-time top-10 marks in the men’s and women’s 5,000 meters, respectively. Mwampe’s runner-up time of 14:40.07 is the sixth-best in Tiger history, while Denton’s time of 17:35.82 ranks third all-time.
In prelim action, the Lady Tigers qualified all four of it athletes into tomorrow’s 200-meter final, while the Tigers advanced three of its five runners.
Senior Muna Lee turned in the field’s top qualifying time, winning her heat in 23.26. Her time marked a season-best effort and ranks as the second- fastest time in the NCAA this season.
Also winning their individual heats for the Lady Tigers were seniors Monique Hall and Stephanie Durst and junior Tania Woods.
Hall clocked a season-best 24.04 to advance with the third-best qualifying mark, while Woods followed with the fourth-best time of the day (24.22). Durst finished in 24.31 to post the competition’s sixth-fastest time.
In the men’s 200, sophomore Kelly Willie as well as seniors Robert Parham and Pete Coley each advanced to second-day action.
Willie and Parham clocked identical times of 21.34, as Willie won his heat and Parham finished second in his. Coley also won his heat, turning in a time 21.50.
In the 400 meters, the Lady Tigers advanced two athletes, in Hazelann Regis and Nadia Davy, into tomorrow’s final. Regis won her heat with the second-fastest qualifying time of the day (53.42), while Regis finished first in her heat, posting a time of 54.33.
LSU will conclude action at the Armory Invitational tomorrow, Feb. 14. Competition is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. (CST) with the running events and continue at 9 a.m. (CT) with the field events.