AMES, Iowa — LSU senior Jeffrey Fisher secured an automatic bid to the NCAA Indoor Championships while other helped solidify their place at the national meet turning in season-best performances at the Iowa State-hosted NCAA Track and Field Qualifier on Saturday.
Fisher, a native of Marrero, La., broke his own school record in the 800 meters, clocking a time of 1:47.80 to meet the automatic standard. His time currently ranks among the top 10 in the country this season.
Lady Tiger senior RaNysha LeBlanc won the 60-meter hurdles with an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 8.18. The time, a personal best effort, should secure her a spot at the NCAA Championships as it ranks as the eighth-best mark in the country to date.
Also improving her position in the NCAA rankings was freshman sprinter Kelly Baptiste. Baptiste won the 200 meters with an indoor personal best of 23.47. The time, an NCAA provisional mark, ranks as the 10th best in the nation this season.
Senior Austin Benton turned in a PR in the 400 meters for the second straight week. The sophomore’s time of 46.81 ranks as the seventh-best all-time in Tiger history.
In the field, Tiger Gerald Taylor and Lady Tiger LaToya Payne turn in solid efforts in the long jump. Taylor won the men’s competition with a distance of 24-5 1/2, while Payne finished second among the women’s field with a NCAA provisional mark of 20-1.
The LSU track and field team closes out the 2005 indoor season next weekend when it travels to Fayetteville, Ark., for the NCAA Indoor Championships, March 11-12.