FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — All-American Kellie Willie lit up the track as he blazed to an automatic qualifying and nation leading time Saturday at the closing of the Tyson Invitational.
Willie’s time of 20.66 in the 200-meter passes teammate Xavier Carter‘s top mark and gives the Tigers their second automatic qualifier for the Indoor Finals in mid-March.
“We just told him to relax a little bit,” said head coach Dennis Shaver. “Work the race and you’ll run fast. Fortunately he listened and at this time of the season he’s doing what we need to get done.”
The distance medley relay of Michael Hendry, Austin Benton, Isa Phillips, and Patrick Gavin showed that last week’s school record was no fluke. The four Tigers turned in a time of 9:41.82, just eight-tenths of a second slower than last week’s mark.
The quartet finished in third behind Arkansas and Stanford. The three schools combined to set three of the top five times in the country so far this year.
The NCAA Indoor Championships loom ahead for the Tigers. With just four meets left, the Tigers are looking to pick up some more automatic qualifiers over the next four weeks.
“We’re looking forward to the SEC championships,” said Shaver. “Then of course getting through that and staying healthy and then moving on forward and start lining up about a week and a half later against teams like Arkansas and Florida State and a lot of other teams that I think have a legitimate shot at the NCAA title.”
On the women’s side, Brooklynn Morris sprinted to a 23.35 in the 200-meter, improving her standing on the provisional list and raising her personal best. Fellow sprinter Kelly Baptiste turned in a time of 23.32, giving the women two of the top five times in the country.
Just five events later, the duo was joined by Juanita Broadudus and Deonna Lawrence for the 4×400-meter relay. The Lady Tigers bested the mark they set yesterday, combining for a smoking 3:30.43 and another relay crown.
Looking ahead, both the men and women will be back in action this weekend as they return home to Baton Rouge. LSU will be hosting the LSU Twilight at the Carl Maddox Field House. The one day event will begin Feb. 17, at 3 p.m.