SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After five events and one day of competition senior Darion Powell sits in fifth place in the decathlon as action from the NCAA Outdoor Championships got underway for the LSU track and field team Wednesday at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex.
Powell who tallied a season-best 3,894 first-day points did so behind season-bests in three of the five events. He topped all competitors in the shot put, throwing for a personal-best distance of 49-7 1/4. He added a second-place finish in the 100 meters (11.20), a fourth-place showing in the long jump (23-5 1/4) and marks of 6-0 in the high jump and 50.75 in the 400 meters to close out the day.
“I was real pleased with Darion’s performance today,” said LSU head coach Dennis Shaver. “He was real consistent and had at least a couple of season bests. He came in and took care of business.”
Also competing in the decathlon was Edwin Billot. The senior stands in 20th after the first day with 3,484 points.
In qualifying round action, LSU advanced both its men’s and women’s 4×100 meter relays into Friday’s final.
The Tiger foursome of Richard Thompson, Xavier Carter, Marvin Stevenson and Kelly Willie continued to impress, posting the fastest time in the NCAA this season, 38.87, to win their heat and automatically move on.
The Lady Tigers also earned an automatic spot into the finals after Sherry Fletcher, Brooklynn Morris, Jessica Ohanaja and Kelly Baptiste combined to post a season-best 43.47 in winning their heat.
Individually, Morris and Baptiste went on to qualify to the semifinals in the 200 meters. Baptiste advanced by virtue of winning her heat and posting the second-fastest time of the day (22.85). Morris qualified on time, finishing third in her heat with a time of 23.14.
In the 400 meters, Deonna Lawrence and Cynetheia Rooks each moved on for the Lady Tigers. Lawrence finished second in her heat to earn the automatic bid (52.58), while Rooks advanced on time (53.22).
The Tigers also got two athletes, in sophomores Xavier Carter and Reggie Dardar, into the semifinals in the 400 meters. Carter turned in the second fastest time of the day (45.51) in easily winning his heat, while Dardar advanced on time clocking 46.41.
Tiger Kelly Willie moved through first round action in the 200 meters. The 16-time All-American clocked 20.72 to will his heat and advance with the second fastest time of the day.
“Overall, I thought that everyone we thought had the possibility to advance is getting a chance to run again. That means we aren’t beating ourselves,” said Shaver. “Tomorrow is new day and another track meet.
Action from the NCAA Outdoor Championships continues tomorrow afternoon. Competition will begin at noon (CT) with the conclusion of the decathlon. Field events start at 1 p.m. and running events will follow at 5:30 p.m.
LSU Athletes in the NCAA Championships
Wednesday, June 7
Time (CT)
Event
Round
LSU Athlete
Place
Mark
Pts/Adv.
Noon
100 Meters
Decathlon (M)
2
11.20
817 pts.
Long Jump
4
23-5 1/4
847 pts.
Shot Put
1
49-7 1/4
797 pts.
High Jump
t17
6-0
653 pts.
400 Meters
14
50.75
780 pts.
DAY 1 TOTAL
5
3,894
100 Meters
Decathlon (M)
Edwin Billot
19
11.48
757 pts.
Long Jump
23
20-11 1/4
670 pts.
Shot Put
25
35-10 1/2
542 pts.
High Jump
t4
6-6
785 pts.
400 Meters
22
51.88
730 pts.
DAY 1 TOTAL
20
3,484
5 p.m.
4×100 (W)
Semifinal
LSU
3
43.47
Adv.
5:20 p.m.
4×100 (M)
Semifinal
LSU
1
38.87
Adv.
5:30 p.m.
100 Hurdles (W)
1st Round
17
13.48
Adv.
5:30 p.m.
Long Jump (W)
Qualifying
26
19-0
—
5:40 p.m.
800 (W)
1st Round
21
2:07.45
—
7:10 p.m.
200 (W)
1st Round
2
22.85
Adv.
10
23.14
Adv.
7:30 p.m.
200 (M)
1st Round
2
20.72
Adv.
7:50 p.m.
400 (W)
1st Round
7
52.58
Adv.
16
53.22
Adv.
8:10 p.m.
400 (M)
1st Round
2
45.51
Adv.
16
46.41
Adv.
19
46.47
—
8:30 p.m.
100 Hurdles (W)
Semifinal
—
DQ
—
9 p.m.
High Jump (W)
Qualifying
—
—
—
9:15 p.m.
Long Jump (M)
Qualifying
—
Foul
—
Thursday, June 8
Time (CT)
Event
Round
LSU Athlete
Place
Mark
Pts/Adv.
Noon
110 Hurdles
Decathlon (M)
8
15.04
845 pts.
Discus
—
FOUL
—
Pole Vault
—
DNS
—
Javelin
—
DNS
—
1500 Meters
—
—
—
TOTAL
—
DNF
—
110 Hurdles
Decathlon (M)
Edwin Billot
6
14.85
868 pts.
Discus
22
104-2
499 pts.
Pole Vault
t5
15-1
790 pts.
Javelin
17
148-11
521 pts.
1500 Meters
15
4:57.74
573 pts.
TOTAL
15
6,735
5:30 p.m.
100 (W)
1st Round
Kelly Baptiste
3
11.33
Adv.
17
11.58
Adv.
5:50 p.m.
100 (M)
1st Round
Xavier Carter
2
10.25
Adv.
6:30 p.m.
400 Hurdles (M)
1st Round
Isa Phillips
2
50.07
Adv.
7:20 p.m.
100 (W)
Semifinal
Kelly Baptiste
2
11.24
Adv.
18
11.70
—
7:30 p.m.
100 (M)
Semifinal
Xavier Carter
3
10.145
Adv.
8:30 p.m.
4×400 (W)
Semifinal
LSU
—
—
—
8:55 p.m.
4×400 (M)
Semifinal
LSU
—
—
—
Friday, June 9
Time (CT)
Event
Round
LSU Athlete
Place
Mark
Pts/Adv.
Noon
100 Hurdles
Heptathlon (W)
Megan Akre
—
—
—
High Jump
—
—
—
Shot Put
—
—
—
200 Meters
—
—
—
3 p.m.
Triple Jump (W)
Qualifying
Andrea Linton
—
—
—
5:45 p.m.
High Jump (W)
Final
Shaunette Davidson
—
—
—
6 p.m.
4×100 (W)
Final
LSU
—
—
—
6:10 p.m.
4×100 (M)
Final
LSU
—
—
—
7:25 p.m.
400 (W)
Semifinal
—
—
—
—
—
—
7:35 p.m.
400 (M)
Semifinal
—
—
—
—
—
—
7:45 p.m.
200 (W)
Semifinal
—
—
—
—
—
—
7:55 p.m.
200 (M)
Semifinal
—
—
—
8:20 p.m.
400 Hurdles (M)
Semifinal
Isa Phillips
—
—
—
Saturday, June 10
Time (CT)
Event
Round
LSU Athlete
Place
Mark
Pts/Adv.
12:30 p.m.
Long Jump
Heptathlon (W)
Megan Akre
—
—
—
Javelin
—
—
—
800 Meters
—
—
—
2:30 p.m.
Triple Jump (W)
Final
Andrea Linton
—
—
—
2:35 p.m.
100 (W)
Final
Kelly Baptiste
—
—
—
2:42 p.m.
100 (M)
Final
Xavier Carter
—
—
—
3:02 p.m.
400 Hurdles (M)
Final
Isa Phillips
—
—
—
3:10 p.m.
400 (W)
Final
—
—
—
—
—
—
3:20 p.m.
400 (M)
Final
—
—
—
—
—
—
3:30 p.m.
200 (W)
Final
—
—
—
—
—
—
3:40 p.m.
200 (M)
Final
—
—
—
4:32 p.m.
4×400 (W)
Final
LSU
—
—
—
4:45 p.m.
4×400 (M)
Final
LSU
—
—
—