BATON ROUGE — The LSU track and field teams are looking to build momentum for the postseason as they make their annual trip to New York City this weekend to compete in the New Balance Collegiate Invitational at the historic Armory Track and Field Center.
The New Balance Collegiate Invitational is one of the premier meets of the indoor season as the nation’s top teams meet in a field of more than 100 universities from across the country.
The two-day meet kicks off for LSU on Friday with the field events at 10:30 a.m. CT followed by the first events on the track at 2 p.m. Saturday’s action gets underway in the field at 8:05 a.m.
The fifth-ranked Lady Tigers will battle such nationally-ranked programs as No. 1 Texas A&M, No. 2 Tennessee, No. 4 Oregon, No. 6 Texas, No. 8 Florida State, No. 11 South Carolina, No. 19 BYU and No. 25 Baylor. The 10th-ranked Tigers will see No. 3 Oregon, No. 5 Texas A&M, No. 6 Florida State, No. 7 Texas, No. 8 BYU, No. 14 South Carolina and No. 20 Baylor.
“We always look forward to coming to New York each year because it is an outstanding meet for our athletes to run, jump and throw in a highly competitive environment,” said LSU head coach Dennis Shaver. “We expect our athletes to perform at the highest level and improve this weekend simply because of the environment and the great facility we will see.
“We’re just looking to see improvement from each one of our athletes at this point in the season. I’m confident that both teams will compete well this weekend and come back and get ready to go to another big meet at the Tyson Invitational next weekend. These will be two big weeks for us.”
Junior sprinter Trindon Holliday will highlight this weekend’s action as he is scheduled to run the 200-meter dash for the first time in his LSU career.
Holliday, who is also entered in the 60-meter dash, is the national leader in the short sprint with a seasonal-best time of 6.56 seconds set at the SEC/Big 12 Challenge in College Station, Texas, last weekend. The Zachary native finished runner-up to teammate Richard Thompson in the 60 meters at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational a year ago with a then personal best of 6.61.
Sophomore Walter Henning, the national leader in the weight throw with a seasonal-best mark of 73 feet, 4 ? inches, is the favorite to win his specialty on Saturday. Henning has set new personal bests and school records in the event in each of the last two weeks.
As in previous years, LSU’s outstanding crew of middle distance runners will open up the season at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational. Junior LaTavia Thomas leads the way as she will run the 800 meters for the first time this season. Thomas is the defending NCAA Indoor champion for the 800 meters, while also finishing runner-up at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2008.
Other LSU runners competing in the 800 meters include senior Kayann Thompson, junior Jamaal James, sophomore Brittany Hall and sophomore Richard Jones.
“This is an important meet for each one of our middle distance runners because it will be the first time they have a chance to really get on the track and run against an NCAA Championships level field,” Shaver said. “This meet always attracts some of the best 800-meter runners in the country, and we’re anxious to see if our athletes are ready to run against the best.”
In addition to those who will be making their season debut for LSU this weekend, many will look to strengthen their NCAA qualifying marks when they compete at The Armory.
Junior Armanti Hayes, freshman Ade Alleyne-Forte and freshman Robert Simmons will compete in the 400 meters, while senior Jeremy Hicks (long jump), junior Will Coppage (long jump) and sophomore Zedric Thomas (triple jump) are also scheduled to compete for the Tigers.
Among the Lady Tigers hoping to strengthen their postseason position include junior Samantha Henry and sophomore Kenyanna Wilson in the 60 meters and 200 meters, sophomore Brittani Carter in the high jump, junior Katelyn Rodrigue and freshman Rachel Laurent in the pole vault and senior Andrea Linton in both the long jump and triple jump.
The Tigers and Lady Tigers will follow their trip to New York by traveling to Fayetteville, Ark., to compete in the Tyson Invitational at the Randal Tyson Track Center beginning Feb. 13.