CORAL GABLES, Fla. – LSU’s national champion track and field team was nothing short of exceptional Saturday, posting six NCAA-leading marks while breaking numerous meet and Cobb Stadium records at the Miami-hosted Gatorade Track and Field Classic.
“We had an outstanding meet today,” said LSU head coach Pat Henry. “For this type of meet at this time of the season we turned in some big time performances. I think the team came in relaxed and when you compete relaxed good things happen.”
Both the Tigers and Lady Tigers extended their unbeaten streaks in the 4×100-meter relay. The Lady Tigers, now winners of 11 straight short relay titles, combined to win gold with a meet and Cobb Stadium record of 43.45.
The Tiger foursome of Kelly Willie, Marvin Stevenson, Pete Coley and Bennie Brazell clocked 39.07 to set meet and stadium records as well in the event.
Willie, Stevenson and Coley then dominated the field in the 400 meters, finishing 1-2-3. Willie set meet and stadium records with an NCAA-leading time of 45.58. Coley earned runner-up honors in 46.12, while Williams was third in 47.36.
The Lady Tigers were equally impressive in the open quarter as Hazelann Regis and Nadia Davy finished first and second, respectively, with marks that currently rank No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation. Regis recorded the third-fastest time in school history and a PR time of 51.21, while Davy followed in 51.33.
In the 800 meters, Neisha Bernard-Thomas easily handled the competition winning the event with an NCAA-leading time of 2:02.05.
Bennie Brazell was outstanding in the 400-meter hurdles. The All-American from Houston posted the fastest time in the nation this year (49.19) while setting the meet and stadium records in the event.
In the throwing events, Brandon Racca and Joe Lochridge recorded individual event wins for the Tigers, while Britney Henry won gold for the Lady Tigers. Racca won the javelin with a season-best throw of 209-10. Lochridge also posted a season-best effort with his toss of 56-7 1/2 in the shot put and Henry won the hammer with a distance of 197-8.
Other event winners included Willie Bradley in the triple jump (53-1), John Moffitt in the long jump (26-1), Daniel Trosclair in the pole vault (16-10 3/4), Matt Vincent in the discus (165-0) and the women’s 4×400-meter relay team.
LSU returns to action next weekend, April 16-17, when it hosts the LSU Combined Events and the LSU Alumni Gold at Bernie Moore Track Stadium.