FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Junior Kelly Willie became the first Tiger to punch his ticket to the 2005 NCAA Indoor Championships, automatically qualifying to the national meet in the 200 meters Friday, highlighting the first day of competition for the LSU track and field team at the Razorback Invitational.
Willie’s time of 20.78 in the event was good enough for a second-place finish.
Missing the automatic standard, but provisionally qualifying for the national championships, March 11-12, in Fayetteville, was Lady Tiger All-American Tina Harris. Competing in the long jump for the first time this season, the sophomore jumped 20-0 1/2 in earning runner-up honors. Teammate LaToya Payne wasn’t far behind, finishing third with a distance of 19-11 3/4.
Elsewhere in the field, Tiger Matt Vincent and Lady Tiger Katie McKeever each walked away with victories. Vincent won the weight throw with a toss of 54-0, while McKeever came out on top in the shot put with a hurl of 49-1 1/2.
On the track, the lone first-day victory came from the Lady Tiger foursome of Neisha Bernard-Thomas, Brittany Harris, Tanya Osborne and Ruth Nanyinza, who combined to win the distance medley relay in 11:38.04. The men were also solid in the event, finishing fourth with a time of 9:52.30.
Also shining for the Lady Tiger distance squad was the senior Katie Denton. The Baton Rouge native ran to a school record 17:26.60 in the 5,000 meters to finish fifth overall. Fellow senior Sam Mwape was also impressive in the 5,000 meters, placing second in the men’s race with a time of 14:39.91.
Other top performances came from freshmen Brooklyn Morris and Deonna Lawrence in the 200 meters. The duo finished second and third, respectively, with times of 24.14 and 24.43.
Heading into the second and final day of competition, LSU’s Kwami Roberts and Alleyne Lett will be the men to beat in the heptathlon. Roberts currently leads the field with 2,990 points, Lett isn’t far behind in second with 2,970 points.
In the women’s pentathlon, junior Dianne Harrison will enter day two in fifth place (3,581) and senior Megan Akre will start in seventh (3,206).
LSU wraps ups competition from the Razorback Invitational Saturday before returning home to host the Bayou Bengal Invitational, Jan. 28, at the Carl Maddox Fieldhouse.