AUSTIN, Texas – – The LSU track and field team had 15 qualifiers on the third day of the 78th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays at a packed Mike A. Myers Stadium Friday.
“We advanced the 4×100 relay teams, we advanced the 4×400 relay teams, and Ashley made it through and so I think everyone did a very good job at the meet today,” said LSU track and field head coach Dennis Shaver. “They did it in some pretty good conditions in front of a pretty good size crowd, and many of them have not run in front of a crowd that size before.”
The men’s 4×100-meter relay team and women’s 4×100 and 4×800-meter relay teams all qualified for the finals tomorrow. Xavier Carter, Marvin Stevenson, Kelly Willie and Bennie Brazell combined to run the second fastest time of the day winning its heat with a regional qualifying time of 39.67, edging out USC.
For the women, Ashley Owens, Deonna Lawrence, Brooklyn Morris and Kelly Baptiste combined to win their heat in the 4×100-meter relay with a qualifying time of 44.89. In the 4×400-meter relay, Morris, Tanya Osborne, Meisue Francis and Lawrence combined to qualify for the finals with a regional qualifying time of 3:35.61. The Lady Tigers were four tenths of a second behind Houston, who barely held on for the win.
“For the first time I really felt like they are a little bit afraid to make a mistake,” said Shaver. “Not abnormal for this time in the year, but it is something that tomorrow they are going to have to forget about. I think that they will definitely run better tomorrow.”
Olympic medallist and All-American Kelly Willie would run the fastest time in the men’s 100-meter dash winning his heat with a qualifying time of 10.26. The time is the eighth fastest all time in school history and a personal best for Willie. Ashley Owens would qualify for the finals of the women’s 100-meter dash winning her heat with a regional qualifying time of 11.62.
“I thought Kelly definitely looked as good as I have ever seen him run in the 100-meters,” said Shaver. “He executed the race well and he was patient, and that is good. Kelly sometimes tries to rush thins, and I was happy that he was able to do that.”
Sophomore Alleyne Lett had a seasonal best and regional qualifying time of 13.93 in the men’s 110-meter hurdles. The time is the tenth fastest in school history and qualifies Lett for the finals. In the women’s 100-meter hurdles senior RaNysha LeBlanc won her heat with a seasonal best and qualifying time of 13.45.
“Alleyne is just an extremely talented young man that I think has a difficult time making transition from one level to the next so I am very pleased with his performances today,” said Shaver. “I know that from watching him compete in the three events here, and in watching the hurdles race he was impressive.”
Tina Harris finished second in the women’s long jump with a personal best and regional qualifying mark of 21-2. The mark moves her to eighth all-time in school history. In the men’s long jump, Alleyne Lett finished tenth with a personal best and qualifying mark of 24-4 1/4.
Matt Vincent finished third in the college shot put division with a regional qualifying throw of 54-7 1/4, while Amanda Harmata finished fourth in the women’s javelin with a qualifying mark of 149-8. In the discuss, Lett finished fourth with a qualifying mark of 178-4, and Vincent finished seventh with a personal best and regional qualifying mark of 172-2. Lett’s mark put him tenth all time in school history in the discuss.
Morris, Baptiste, Lawrence and Osborne combined to finish second in the women’s sprint medley relay, while Siraj Williams, Marvin Stevenson, Reginald Dardar and Jamison Carter combined to finish 11th in the men’s sprint medley relay.
Pat Perrien finished third in the men’s javelin college division with a seasonal best and qualifying mark of 206-8. In the women’s high jump, Shontae Harris and Megan Akre finished in a tie for third both jumping 5-7. Andrea Linton finished fourth in the women’s triple jump college division with a regional qualifying mark of 40-11 1/2.
The Tiger will finish action tomorrow at the Texas Relays. The running and field events both start at 9 a.m. CST.