BATON ROUGE — The LSU softball team continued its tradition by competing in the sixth-annual triathlon that included swimming, biking and running around the campus last Thursday.
The team began the triathlon by swimming 300 yards at the Natatorium. Immediately after each Tiger finished swimming, they picked up a bike and road four miles along a course that ended at the flagpole on the levee on River Road. The ride began outside the Natatorium and the team rode around the classic Tiger Park, past the W.T. “Dub” Robinson Tennis Stadium, along the track and field facilities and crossed over Nicholson by the classic Alex Box Stadium. The team then rode up Skip Bertman Drive and on the levee until reaching the flagpole.
Once the Tigers made it to the flagpole, they ran two and a half miles down Skip Bertman Dr. and South Stadium Dr., circled Tiger Stadium and crossed the finish line at the flagpole at the levee.
“It was a successful team experience because they all worked hard to finish with a quick time,” said Melissa Moore, LSU’s Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. “They competed very hard against each other.”
Sophomore Ashley Applegate crossed the line first as she finished with a time of 36:04.
“Ashley has made huge strides in her conditioning since she has been at LSU, so for her to win the triathlon is exciting because it shows how hard she has worked,” Moore said.
Two pitchers displayed their athleticism as they finished in the top six. Junior transfer Kirsten Shortridge finished second at 37:33, and sophomore Casey Faile finished sixth at 42:06.
The Tigers also competed as teams, the Bayou Bombshells, TNT, Le Tigre and Purple Peacocks. Bayou Bombshells finished as the top team with an average time of 41.51, while TNT placed second with a 41.66 average. Le Tigre was third at 45.03, and the Purple Peacocks were fourth with a 47.59 average.
The Bombshells are made up of Faile, Rachel Mitchell, Courtney Hollier and Lauren Capello. TNT consists of Applegate, Jazz Jackson, Brittany Mack, Lindsey Gautreaux and Shortridge. Le Tigre is made up of Dani Hofer, Jessica Mouse, Katie Guillory, Juliana Santos and Anissa Young. The Purple Peacocks consists of Tiffany Shaw, Cody Trahan, Katie Hamilton and Ashley Langoni.
“Everybody made it through safely and we did not have any major problems or injuries for such a long track,” Moore said. “Overall, it was a fun bonding experience for everyone.”
LSU will open the 2009 season Feb. 5 against UAB in the Paradise Softball Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii.