FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Senior Hazelann Regis earned All-American honors in the 200 meters Friday to get the Lady Tiger track and field team on the scoreboard in the first day of competition at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Regis clocked the second fastest time of her career, 23.10, to finish fourth and garner the eighth All-America title of her career. The senior from St. Andrews, Grenada, tallied five points for the Lady Tigers’ team score as they stand in 22nd after the first day of competition.
Top-ranked Tennessee leads the women’s standings with 21 points, while Texas (19) and Miami (14) are second and third respectively.
“I think on the women’s side we did everything we could do tonight,” said LSU head coach Dennis Shaver. “We competed like we have been all year. We have three strong scoring opportunities tomorrow and if we are able to take care of business I think we still have a shot.”
The LSU men missed securing any points in the first day of action after an unfortunate disqualification of freshman Xavier Carter in the 200 meters. Carter clocked 20.65 to finish seventh in the finals, but was later disqualified for a lane violation.
Oregon tops the men’s standing after one day with 20 points. Arkansas (19) and Wisconsin (16) follow.
“The men didn’t run well today but I think that they will turn it around tomorrow,” said Shaver.
Sophomore Tina Harris was LSU’s only other athlete to compete in a final on Friday. She finished 13th in the women’s long jump with a distance of 19-9.
In qualifying round action, LSU had three athletes move on to Saturday’s finals.
Olympic gold medalist Kelly Willie will go for his third straight All-America honor in the 400 meters after winning his heat with the field’s third fastest qualifying time (46.44).
Senior Pete Coley missed the cut for the 400-meter final after placing fourth in his heat, and 15th overall, with a time of 47.57.
Following her All-America effort in the 200 meters, Regis will return to the track in the women’s 400 meters after cruising to a victory in heat one of the prelims with a time of 51.83. The time, the second fastest of the day, was bettered only by top-ranked Tiandra Ponteen of Florida who won her heat in 51.62.
All-American Neisha Bernard-Thomas automatically advanced to the finals in the women’s 800 meters. She clocked 2:06.23 to finish second in her heat and sixth overall.
In the men’s 800 meters, senior Jeffrey Fisher wrapped up his career with the Tigers. LSU’s school record holder finished 15th in his first ever NCAA appearance, clocking 1:50.96.
In other action, three Lady Tigers concluded their indoor seasons Friday. Sprinters Ashley Owens and Kelly Baptiste finished 13th and 14th, respectively, in the 60-meter dash. Baptiste also place 13th in the 200 meters (23.77). In addition, senior RaNysha LeBlanc turned in a 13th-place showing in the 60-meter hurdles (8.31).
Action from the 2005 NCAA Indoor Championships wraps up tomorrow. Competition from the Randal Tyson Track Center will begin at 11 a.m. with the women’s pentathlon. Field events will get underway at 2 p.m. and running events are scheduled to follow at 6:15 p.m.
TEAM RESULTS (After seven events scored. Top 8 and LSU only)
Men
1, Oregon, 20. 2, Arkansas, 19. 3, Wisconsin, 16. t4, Arizona State, 15. t4, Florida, 15. t4, Stanford, 15. 7, Virginia Tech, 14. 8, South Carolina, 12.
Women
1, Tennessee, 21. 2, Texas, 19. 3, Miami, 14. 4, Stanford, 12. t5, Florida, 11. t5, BYU, 11. t7, Northern Arizona, 10. t7, North Carolina, 10. t7, Michigan, 10. t7, Southern California, 10. t7, Georgia Tech, 10. t7, Texas Southern, 10. 22, LSU, 5.