AUSTIN, Texas — A successful defense of the Lady Tigers’ national title in the 4×100-meter relay highlighted competition for the LSU track and field team Friday at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
The senior quartet of Lolo Jones, Monique Hall, Stephanie Durst and Muna Lee posted the third fastest time in collegiate history and a Mike A. Myers Stadium record of 42.61 in winning the Lady Tigers’ 12th national title in the event.
For anchor leg Muna Lee it marked the seventh NCAA title of her career. With one race still to go, the 19-time All-American is assured to finish her career as the most decorated athlete in LSU track and field history. Her seven titles move her in front of former LSU greats Walter Davis, D’Andre Hill, and Dawn Sowell on LSU’s all-time NCAA titles list, as each earned six over the course of their careers.
Following the short relay Lee went on to earn her second straight NCAA runner-up finish in the 100 meter dash. A four-time All-American in the event, Lee clocked 11.12 to finish behind Miami’s Lauryn Williams (10.97).
In the women’s 100-meter hurdles, LSU scored nine points behind a 4-5 finish by Lolo Jones and Brittany Littlejohn. Both notched PRs as Jones’ time of 12.77 ranks third all-time at LSU and Littlejohn’s 13.04 is eighth on the all-time list.
Tallying 27 points on the day, the Lady Tigers stand in second place in the team standings with 31 points heading into the final day of competition. Nebraska holds the lead with 38 1/3 points.
In the men’s race, LSU stands in sixth with 10 points after not scoring the 4×100-meter relay.
The Tigers missed the handoff on the third exchange, botching their run at a third straight NCAA title in the event.
“Anytime time you run out of the zone that’s not LSU,” said LSU head coach Pat Henry. “We made a serious mistake, but that’s the way it is.”
Arkansas will head into the final day of competition leading the pack with 25 points. Florida and TCU follow with 23 and 18 points, respectively, while SMU (16) and Texas Tech (13) round out the top five.
In the qualifying rounds LSU advanced five athletes to Saturday’s finals.
Tiger Kelly Willie and Lady Tiger Hazelann Regis each automatically qualified in the 400 meters by virtue of winning their prelim heats. Willie posted the third-best time of the day at 45.19, while Regis had the women’s fourth-best mark at 52.33.
Junior Bennie Brazell qualified in the 400-meter hurdles. A two-time All-American in the event, Brazell earned an automatic bid after winning his heat in 49.85.
In the field, triple jumpers Nicole Toney and Willie Bradley advanced to the finals. Toney jumped a season-best 44-3 1/2 to move on in the No. 3 position, while Bradley jumped 53-10 1/2 to qualify in the No. 2 spot.
All-Americans LeJuan Simon and John Moffitt missed the finals, jumping 51-1 3/4 and 50-10 to finish 15th and 18th, respectively.
Action from the NCAA Championships will conclude tomorrow with the crowning of the men’s and women’s team champions. Competition in the field events will begin at 1 p.m. and running events will follow at 6 p.m.
2004 LSU National Champions
MEN
John Moffitt, Long Jump (27-6 3/4)
WOMEN
4×100 Relay — Lolo Jones, Monique Hall, Stephanie Durst, Muna Lee — 42.61
2004 LSU All-Americans
WOMEN
Tina Harris, 5th-Long Jump (21-1 1/2)
Lolo Jones, 4th-100 Hurdles (12.77)
Muna Lee, 2nd-100 Meters (11.12)
Brittany Littlejohn, 5th-100 Hurdles (13.04)