WASHINGTON — President George W. Bush welcomed the national champion LSU women’s track and field team to the White House for Champions Day on Wednesday afternoon in honor of its victory at the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships back in June.
The trip marked the first time since 2002 that the Lady Tigers have made the distinguished trip to the nation’s capital after winning its 25th NCAA title in the program’s storied history.
President Bush honored both the men’s and women’s teams in 2002 after the Lady Tigers brought home the team title at the NCAA Indoor Championships and the Tigers captured the title at the NCAA Outdoor Championships that season. The teams have now combined for a total of 31 team titles at the NCAA Championships as the Tigers have won six of their own.
“It’s a tremendous honor for our team to have been invited to the White House today, and this is a time that I’m sure all of our athletes will always remember,” said LSU head coach Dennis Shaver. “I’m proud of both of our teams for what they were able to accomplish last season. To be honored by the President with his hospitality today is a great reward for their hard work.”
The Lady Tigers arrived at the White House at 11:30 a.m. for a tour of the residence followed by a photo opportunity with President Bush at 12:30 p.m.
The team and its traveling party were then escorted to the South Lawn of the White House where President Bush spoke for approximately 20 minutes congratulating the Lady Tigers and 10 other national championship teams for their success during the 2008 spring season.
Among the Lady Tigers who made the trip to the White House were those who represented LSU at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, which included 15 student-athletes in all.
Those being honored by President Bush during Wednesday’s festivities were Kelly Baptiste, Angel Boyd, Juanita Broaddus, Nedra Gross, Brittany Hall, Samantha Henry, Deonna Lawrence, Andrea Linton, Brooklynn Morris, Jessica Ohanaja, Katelyn Rodrigue, LaTavia Thomas, Kayann Thompson, Kenyanna Wilson and Nickiesha Wilson.
During the ceremony, Baptiste and Thomas presented President Bush with a wooden box that had the LSU logo and the phrase “NCAA Track & Field National Champions 2008” laser inscribed on the front, as well as “George W. Bush” and “President of the United States of America” on the inside of the top. The box contained a leather jacket specific to the LSU track and field team.
President Bush was also presented with a purple and gold national championship baton signed by each member of the team who made the trip to the White House.
Not only was the Lady Tigers’ victory at the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Championships the 25th team title in program history, but it was also the first national championship for eight seniors who were wearing the LSU uniform for the last time. LSU ended a five-year drought with its first title since winning the team championship at the 2004 NCAA Indoor Championships.
The 25 national championships won by the LSU women’s track and field team is more than any other women’s program in the history of collegiate athletics.