CORAL GABLES, Fla. — LSU’s nationally-ranked men’s and women’s track and field teams return to action Saturday at the Miami Elite Invitational in Coral Gables, Fla.
The meet, to be held at Miami’s Cobb Stadium, will begin at 11 a.m. (CT) with the field events. Running events will follow at 4 p.m.
15 teams with comprise the field, including nationally-ranked opponents Florida, Miami and Texas A&M.
LSU’s All-Americans will be out on the track in full force as all should see action in select open and relay events.
Six-time All-American Xavier Carter will be making his outdoor debut in the 200 meters. Carter, the 2006 indoor runner-up in the event, is currently ranked No. 1 in the country in the 200 meters according to the Trackwire 25 Dandy Dozen.
Senior Kelly Willie will also be making an outdoor debut, but in the 400 meters. A six-time All-American in the open quarter, Willie is also ranked No. 1 in the country in the event according to the Dandy Dozen.
Carter and Willie are also expected to see action in the 4×100 relay, an event in which the Tigers are ranked No. 1 this season.
For the women, All-Americans Kelly Baptiste and Brooklynn Morris are each scheduled to run in the 200 meters as well as on the 4×100 relay.
For Morris, an indoor All-American in the event, it will be her first 200-meter race of the outdoor season. Baptiste, the reigning SEC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week, will look to improve on her season best of 22.94 in the 200 meters, a time that ranks as the second fastest in the nation this year.
In the distance events, LSU will have several athletes seeking regional qualifying marks.
Junior Tanya Osbourne will be chasing the regional standard in the 800 meters, while senior Pat Gavin and sophomore Michael Hendry will look to reach the regional mark in the 1,500 meters.
In the field, freshman Ricky Jean-Francois is slated to compete in both the shot put and discus. Jean-Francois earned All-SEC honors in the shot put during the indoor campaign. Saturday will mark his collegiate debut in the discus.
In addition, Jeremy Hicks will be competing in the men’s long jump competition. The freshman from Houston currently owns the 12th-best mark in the nation this season (24-11).
Following the Miami Elite Invitational, the Tigers and Lady Tigers return to Baton Rouge for their final home meet of the 2006 season when they host the LSU Alumni Gold, April 22, at Bernie Moore Track Stadium.