BATON ROUGE — The success of the LSU men’s and women’s track and field teams led the way on the 2006 All-Louisiana College Track and Field Team as the Louisiana Sports Writers Association announced its final all-star team of the 2005-06 athletic season.
Athletes from Southeastern Louisiana, Tulane and McNeese State also captured the some of the special awards announced by the LSWA.
The team is listed in two categories. The first is the table of times listed below showing the top times and distances in the major events in both men’s and women’s track. Times are based on those submitted by each individual school and conference track and field lists. The special awards are based on nominees by the state track and field sports information directors and voted on by a LSWA panel.
There was little doubt as to the men’s track athlete of the year after the historic NCAA performance by Xavier Carter, who announced earlier this week he was leaving LSU to turn pro. Throws specialist Lars Laursen of Southeastern Louisiana was named the men’s field athlete and newcomer of the year for non-freshman first-year athletes, while Jeremy Hicks of LSU was named the men’s freshman of the year.
On the women’s side, Kelly Baptiste of LSU won the track athlete of the year, while LSU’s Megan Akre won the top field athlete honor. Sprinter Valencia Wilson was named the women’s freshman of the year and Michelle Rzepka of McNeese State was the newcomer of the year.
LSU’s Dennis Shaver was voted the state’s top coach on both the men’s and women’s side.
Carter had an NCAA Outdoor Championship that hadn’t been seen in 70 years as he became the first athlete since Jesse Owens in 1936 to win four titles at the NCAAs. He won the 100 meters (10.09), 400 meters (44.53), 4×100-meter relay (38.44) and anchored the 4×400 relay to a time of 3:01.58. In the process, he became the first man in NCAA history to win both the 100 and 400 in the same meet.
In the process, his LSWA honor joins NCAA, NCAA South Central Region and SEC Men’s Track Athlete of the Year honors earned both indoors and outdoors.
Laursen came to the Lions from the University of Oregon and earned both field and newcomer honors after becoming Southeastern’s second All-American in the javelin following a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships (236-1). He had a personal best of 237-1 in finishing second in the Southland Conference Championships.
Hicks earned top freshman honors after qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the long jump following a fourth-place finish in the event at the NCAA Mideast Regional. He also earned All-SEC honors, jumping a personal best 25-10 3/4 to place second at the conference championships. The mark ranks as the 10th-best jump in school history.
Baptiste topped the women’s track athletes after earning four All-American honors during the indoor and outdoor seasons. Outdoors, she earned All-America status for her third-place showing in the 200 meters at the NCAA Championships. She also anchored the Lady Tigers to a second-place finish in the 4×100-meter relay at that meet. In addition, Baptiste won the 200 meters at the NCAA Mideast Regional and was named the women’s athlete of the meet at the Penn Relays after winning the 100 meters with a meet record time of 11.10.
LSU’s Akre won the SEC pentathlon title with a personal best 3,971 points to qualify to the NCAA Indoor Championships. She followed that up with an NCAA appearance in the heptathlon during the outdoor season where she placed 11th overall. Her best effort in the heptathlon came during the Texas Relays when she tallied 5,352 points, a total that ranks as the 10th best in Lady Tiger history.
Tulane’s Wilson added LSWA freshman honors to her Conference USA frosh honors after finishing second in the 400 meters at the C-USA meet. She qualified for the NCAA Regionals and USA Junior Nationals in the 400 with a season best time of 53.34 in the C-USA finals, the second-best 400 time in school history.
In winning newcomer honors for McNeese State, Rzepka set a school record of 13-7 in the pole vault and won the Southland Conference title. She also placed second in the event at the NCAA Mideast Regionals and finished in a tie for sixth place at the NCAA Championships to earn All-America honors.
LSU’s Shaver guided his Tigers and Lady Tigers to outstanding seasons. His men’s team earned runner-up finishes at both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships. The second-place finish at the outdoor meet was the Tigers’ best since the 2002 season. LSU also won its first ever NCAA regional title, knocking off three-time defending champion, Arkansas, in the process. Individually, he guided the men to six NCAA titles.
On the women’s side, Shaver’s Lady Tigers had a pair of top-10 national finishes as they placed seventh at both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships. They also won the NCAA Mideast Regional title. In addition, the Lady Tigers won national titles in the indoor and outdoor 4×400-meter relay and picked up 11 All-America honors on the year.
The complete list of top times in the state this season:
LSWA Men’s Track and Field Bests
MEN
100 Meters
1. Xavier Carter, LSU (NCAA Championships, 6/7-10) — 10.09
2. Robert Delmore, Southern (PVU Meet, 3/31-4/01) — 10.11
3. Ravyn Hayward, Northwestern State (4/8) — 10.14
200 Meters
1. Xavier Carter, LSU (Miami Elite, 4/15) — 20.13
2. Kelly Willie, LSU (SEC Championships, 5/11-14) — 20.42
3. Kory Cook, Grambling State — 20.76
400 Meters
1. Xavier Carter, LSU (NCAA Championships, 6/7-10) — 44.53
2. Kelly Willie, LSU (Miami Elite, 4/15) — 45.42
3. Reggie Dardar, LSU (Tiger Classic, 4/1) — 45.86
800 Meters
1. Michael Hendry, LSU (SEC Championships, 5/11-14) — 1:50.37
2. Sheldon Williams, La. Tech (WAC Championships, 5/11-12) — 1:51.04
3. Kerone Fairweather, Grambling — 1:52.32
1,500 Meters
1. Patrick Gavin, LSU (Alumni Gold, 4/22) — 3:45.03
2. Michael Hendry, LSU (Alumni Gold, 4/22) — 3:49.93
3. Damien Bateman, McNeese St. (Run Sport/Rice, 4/29) — 3:53.03
3,000 Meters
1. Roland LeBlanc, LSU (Miami Elite, 4/15) — 8:47.36
2. Tim Marshall, La. Tech (Tech Twilight, 4/12) — 8:54.34
3. Jacob Simmons, LSU (Miami Elite, 4/15) — 8:54.35
5,000 Meters
1. Patrick Gavin, LSU (Tiger Classic, 4/1) — 14:30.96
2. Jacob Simmons, LSU (SEC Championships, 5/11-14) — 14.41.04
3. Frank Bwambale, UNO (SBC Championships, 5/12) — 14:56.51
10,000 Meters
1. Justin Lemaire, Louisiana Lafayette (SBC Championships, 5/12) — 32:51.27
1. Zach Schuler, La. Tech (WAC Championships, 5/11-12) — 32:57.97
2. Tim Marshall, La. Tech (Texas Relays, 4/6-7) — 33:03.97
110-Meter Hurdles
1. Nolan Jackson, La. Tech (NCAA Regionals, 5/26-27) — 13.77
2. Carie Steed, Southern (UL-Lafayette meet) — 14.05
3. Avery Sorapuru, Southeastern Louisiana (5/15) — 14.12
400-Meter Hurdles
1. Isa Phillips, LSU (NCAA Championships, 6/7-10) — 49.36
2. Joulain Florent, UNO (Rice Invitational, 4/29) — 51.33
3. Eddie Larkins, Southern (4/30) — 52.13
3,000-Meter Steeplechase
1. Nick Kay, McNeese St. (Tiger Relays, 3/25) — 9:09.61
2. Kinsey Dinnel, La. Tech (LSU Relays, 3/24-25) — 9:12.00
3. Jake Simmons, LSU (SEC Championships, 5/11-14) — 9:20.95
4×100 Meter Relay
1. LSU (Thompson, Carter, Stevenson, Willie, NCAA Championships, 6/7-10) — 38.44
2. Southern (Texas Relays) — 40.12
3. Grambling State (Thomas, Moore, Gray, Cook, 5/13) — 40.54
4×400 Meter Relay
1. LSU (Dardar, Willie, Rogers, Carter, NCAA Championships, 6/7-10) — 3:01.58
2. Southern (Citizen, Turner, Delmore, Wishom, 4/30) — 3:08.75
3. UL Monroe (Texas Relays, 4/8) — 3:11.66
4×800 Meter Relay
1. LSU (Gavin, Phillips, Parker, Hendry, Penn Relays, 4/27-29) — 7:34.79
2. UL-Monroe (Clyde Littlefield Relays, 4/5) — 7:46.05
Distance Medley Relay
1. LSU (Hendry, Benton, Phillips, Gavin, Penn Relays, 4/27-29) — 9:41.76
2. ULM (Texas Relays, 4/8) — 10:05.19
3. La. Tech (Texas Relays, 4/6-7) — 10:26.94
High Jump
1. Derrion Harris, Northwestern St. (UTA Bobby Lane, 4/1) — 6-10 3/4
2. Trevis Nelson, LSU (Alumni Gold, 4/22) — 6-9
3. Edwin Billot, LSU (Texas Relays, 4/5-8) — 6-8 3/4
3. Cameron Waugh, Northwestern St. (Texas Relays, 4/8) — 6-8 3/4
Pole Vault
1. Jimmie Heath, McNeese St. (Texas Relays, 4/8) — 18-0 1/2
2. Devin Rodriguez, McNeese St. (NCAA Regionals, 5/26) — 16-7 1/4
3. Johnny Ellis, Southeastern La. (SLC Championships, 5/13) — 16-0 3/4
Long Jump
1. Jeremy Hicks, LSU (SEC Championships, 5/11-14) — 25-10 3/4
2. Darrick Brown, McNeese St. (SLC Championships, 5/13) — 25-6
3. Avery Sorapuru, Southeastern La. (SLC Championships, 5/13) — 25-4 3/4
Triple Jump
1. Rani Giladi, UL Monroe (Kansas Relays, 4/22) — 49-8 1/2
2. Darrick Brown, McNeese St. (SLC Championships, 5/13) — 49-4 1/2
3. James Randall, Southeastern La. (Alumni Gold, 4/22) — 49-2 1/2
Shot Put
1. Ricky Jean-Francois, LSU (Miami Elite, 4/15) — 59-3
2. Jason Morgan, La. Tech (WAC Championships, 5/11-12) — 57-01
3. Teremine White, Southeastern La. (Louisiana Classic, 3/18) — 54-9 1/2
Discus
1. Jason Morgan, La. Tech (NCAA Regionals, 5/26-27) — 188-07
2. Teremine White, Southeastern La. (Louisiana Classic, 3/18) — 186-2
3. Walt Williams, UL Monroe (Jim Mize Tech, 4/12) — 177-4
Javelin
1. Chris Carter, Southeastern Louisiana (5/13) — 238-2
2. Lars Larsen, Southeastern Louisiana (5/13) — 237-2
3. Cody Fillinich, Northwestern State (4/8) — 230-9
Hammer
1. Rabun Fox, LSU (SEC Championships, 5/11-14) — 198-11
2. Daniel Yarbrough, Northwestern State (SLC Championships, 5/15) — 164-3
3. Reginald Draper, La. Tech (Mississippi State Invitational, 4/1) — 158-10
Decathlon
1. Darion Powell, LSU (SEC Championships, 5/11-14) — 7,640
2. Edwin Billot, LSU (Texas Relays, 4/5-8) — 7,468
3. Mike Conley, UNO — 6,081
WOMEN
100 Meters
1. Kelly Baptiste, LSU (SEC Championships, 5/11-14) — 11.08
2. Brooklynn Morris, LSU (SEC Championships, 5/11-14) — 11.30
3. Gloria Asumnu, Tulane (Ole Miss Inv., 4/8) — 11.38
200 Meters
1. Kelly Baptiste, LSU (NCAA Regional, 5/26-27) — 22.73
2. Brooklynn Morris, LSU (SEC Championships, 5/11-14) — 23.03
3. Gloria Asumnu, Tulane (Ole Miss Inv., 4/8) — 23.40
400 Meters
1. Deonna Lawrence, LSU (NCAA Regional, 5/26-27) — 51.75
2. Nina Gilbert, La. Tech (Tech Twilight, 4/12) — 52.34
3. Cynetheia Rooks, LSU (NCAA Regional, 5/26-27) — 52.51
800 Meters
1. Tanya Osbourne, LSU (SEC Championships, 5/11-14) — 2:06.26
2. Meisue Francis, LSU (NCAA Regional, 5/26-27) — 2:06.41
3. Whitney Hampton, Tulane (Alumni Gold, 4/22) — 2:12.49
1,500 Meters
1. Sonia Clark, McNeese (Run Sport/Rice Twilight) — 4:36.12
2. Megan Kliebert, LSU (Alumni Gold, 4/22) — 4:37.31
3. Katie Dawson, LSU (Alumni Gold, 4/22) — 4:37.83
3,000 Meters
1. Kate Accardo, LSU (Miami Elite, 4/15) — 10:15.72
2. Michelle Hymel, LSU (Miami, Elite, 4/15) — 10:16.25
3. Amanda Bartlett, ULM (Ruston, 4/12) — 10:59.40
5,000 Meters
1. Diana Jipchirchir, UNO (SBC Championships, 5/12) — 17:04.76
2. Sarah Colosimo, LSU (Tiger Relays, 3/23-25) — 18:07.49
3. Jennifer Stark, LSU (Alumni Gold, 4/22) — 18:18.39
10,000 Meters
1. Diana Jipchirchir, UNO (SBC Championships, 5/12) — 35:23.02
2. Amanda Bartlett, ULM (Lafayette, 3/17) — 40:53.5
3. Abby Salomon, Northwestern State, (ULL meet) — 40:59.9
100-Meter Hurdles
1. Jessica Ohanaja, LSU (Texas Relays, 4/5-8) — 13.14
2. Angel Boyd, LSU (SEC Championships, 5/11-14) — 13.25
3. Kaisha Weeks, Southern (ULL Meet, 3/18) — 13.32
400-Meter Hurdles
1. Miriam Barnes, La. Tech (WAC Championships, 5/11-12) — 57.06
2. Jasmine Flournay, UNO (SBC Championships, 5/12) — 1:02.69
3. Sadrina Shaw, UL Monroe (Kansas Relays, 4/20) — 1:02.87
3,000-Meter Steeplechase
1. Sonia Clark, McNeese (Tiger Relays) — 11:32.27
2. Kate Accardo, LSU (SEC Championships, 5/11-14) — 11:39.09
3. Amanda Bartlett, UL Monroe (SLC Championships) — 11:41.44
4×100-Meter Relay
1. LSU (Fletcher, Morris, Broaddus, Baptiste, NCAA Championships, 6/7-10) — 42.94
2. La. Tech (Gilbert, Jackson, Spivey, McClain, Texas Relays, 4/6-7) — 44.75
3. Southern (Cockerham, Robinson, Weeks, Jackson, 5/13) — 45.52
4×400-Meter Relay
1. LSU (Morris, Francis, Rooks, Lawrence, NCAA Championships, 6/7-10) — 3:25.78
2. La. Tech — (Gilbert, Wilson, Jackson, Barnes, LSU Relays, 3/24-25) — 3:33.40
3. Southern (Texas Relays, 4/5-8) — 3:37.02
Distance Medley Relay
1. LSU (Dawson, Broaddus, Day, Hymel, Penn Relays, 4/27-29) — 11:59.01
2. Tulane (Hampton, Kienast, Beelendorf, Langley, Drake Relays, 4/29) — 12:28.38
3. ULM (Texas Relays, 4/8) — 12:52.04
High Jump
1. Shaunette Davidson, LSU (Texas Relays, 4/5-8) — 5-10
1. Melissa Jones, Southeastern Louisiana (4/15) — 5-10
3. Taylor Morrell, McNeese State (UTA Relays, 4/1) — 5-8 3/4
Pole Vault
1. Michelle Rzepka, McNeese State (4/15) — 13-6 1/4
2. Andree Bonvillain, UL Lafayette (Alumni Gold, 4/22) — 11-11
3. Kathleen Gancayco, UL Monroe (Louisiana Classics, 3/18) — 11-0
Long Jump
1. Andrea Linton, LSU (NCAA Regional, 5/26-27) — 20-10 1/2
2. Kathy Coleman, LSU (Texas Relays, 4/5-8) — 20-6 1/2
3. Jessica Tuck, Northwestern State (5/14) — 20-3 1/2
Triple Jump
1. Andrea Linton, LSU (NCAA Championships, 6/7-10) — 42-10 3/4
2. Nicole Simmons, ULM (Ruston, 4/12) — 40-2
3. Nedra Gross, LSU (SEC Championships, 5/11-14) — 39-2 1/2
Shot Put
1. Shaterika Allen, La. Tech (WAC Championships, 5/11-12) — 51-4 1/2
2. Helmi Leppanen, Tulane (C-USA Championships, 5/12) — 49-03 1/2
3. Nadia Alexander, La. Tech (LSU Alumni Gold, 4/22) — 49-2 1/2
Discus
1. Jelena Jurlina, Tulane (Yellow Jacket Invite, 4/1) — 169-06
2. Katarina Busljeta, McNeese State (4/1) — 165-5
3. Monica Williams, La. Tech (ULM Indian Classic, 4/29) — 160-01
Javelin
1. Leslie Bourgeois, Nicholls State (SLC Championships, 5/14) — 161-05
2. Brenda-Grace Hunt, La. Tech (Louisiana Classic, 3/17-18) — 161-02
3. Samantha Ford, Northwestern State (4/8) — 160-3
Hammer
1. Stephanie Gilbert, McNeese State (SLC Championships) — 155-3
2. Lilia Rivera, ULM (Hattiesburg, Miss., 3/11) — 153-6
3. Collena Collins, UNO (SBC Championships, 5/12) — 147-5 1/2
Heptathlon
1. Megan Akre, LSU (Texas Relays, 4/5-8) — 5,352
2. Amber Metoyer, La. Tech (WAC Championships, 5/11-12) — 4,977
3. Dominque McAdoo, ULM (Arlington, Texas, 5/13-14) — 4,358