AUSTIN, Texas — The LSU women’s track and field team kicked off the 82nd Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays with a bang Thursday night by successfully defending its crown in the 4×800-meter relay with a winning time of 8 minutes, 46.23 seconds at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
The Lady Tigers dominated the other eight teams in this year’s field as the foursome of freshman Laura Carleton, senior Kayann Thompson, sophomore Brittany Hall and junior LaTavia Thomas finished the race more than six seconds ahead of the squad from Texas Tech (8:52.46).
This marks the second year in a row that the Lady Tigers have won the 4×800-meter relay crown at the Texas Relays after taking home the title last season with a time of 8:45.04.
The LSU women have won the 4×800 relay at the Texas Relays three times in their history, while picking up their first ever event title way back in 1985. With their victory on Thursday night, the Lady Tigers have captured a total of 31 relay titles all-time at one of the nation’s most prestigious outdoor meets, while the Tigers and Lady Tigers have now combined for 57 titles all-time.
The Tigers also competed in the 4×800-meter relay on the first day of the meet for LSU, finishing the race in fourth place with a time of 7:34.55.
The squad of freshman Garrek Thompson, junior Richard Jones, senior Jeffery Adolph and junior Jamaal James finished behind the winning team from Texas (7:22.36), runner-up Arkansas (7:25.83) and third-place Northern Iowa (7:32.41). The Tigers earned a runner-up finish last year.
Senior Patrick Lee was the first LSU athlete to step onto the track at this year’s Texas Relays and qualified for the final of the 400-meter hurdles after winning the first of eight preliminary heats in a time of 52.14 seconds. The final of the men’s 400 hurdles is slated for Saturday at 12:28 p.m.
Sophomore All-American Walter Henning was LSU’s top performer in the field events Thursday while making his outdoor season debut in the men’s hammer throw.
Henning earned a qualifying mark for the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships while placing second in the competition with a throw of 208 feet, 7 inches. With his performance, Henning now ranks No. 4 on LSU’s all-time outdoor performance list in the hammer throw, while is also one of the nation’s Top 10 performers in the event early in the season at No. 10 on the NCAA list.
In addition, two Tiger hammer throwers also improved their NCAA regional qualifying marks on the day as freshman Michael Lauro set a new personal best with a throw of 203-1 to take fifth and senior Rabun Fox recorded a seasonal-best mark of 196-9 to finish in sixth place.
The Tigers added a second new NCAA regional qualifier in the field during Thursday’s action as sophomore Marcus McGehee cleared a height of 16-6 ? to finish third in the college section of the men’s pole vault. His effort is a new outdoor personal best as he improves his previous best of 16-0 ? set a week ago at the LSU Tiger Relays at the Bernie Moore Track Stadium.
On the women’s side, junior Kim Williams improved her NCAA regional qualifying mark with a seasonal-best throw of 189-0 to place seventh in the women’s hammer throw. Williams is looking to compete at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships for the second-straight season.
Saturday’s action at the 82nd Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays begins at 9:30 a.m. CT for LSU as the Lady Tigers line up in the preliminary round of the 4×100-meter relay.
LSU’s Qualifiers for the 2009 NCAA Mideast Regional Championships (as of April 2)
MEN
Name, Event, Mark/Time
Chris Bless, Hammer Throw, 189-4
Mark DeBlanc, Javelin, 216-4
Rabun Fox, Hammer Throw, 196-9
Reggie Haslom, Triple Jump, 49-5 ?
Walter Henning, Hammer Throw, 208-7
Jeremy Hicks, Long Jump, 26-1 ?
Michael Lauro, Hammer Throw, 203-1
Marcus McGehee, Pole Vault, 16-6 ?
Barrett Nugent, 110 hurdles, 14.13
Gabriel Mvumvure, 100 meters, 10.43w
Gabriel Mvumvure, 200 meters, 21.15
Zedric Thomas, Long Jump, 24-9 ?
Hicks, Coppage, Mvumvure, Holliday; 4×100 Relay; 39.36
Hayes, Howard, James, Alleyne-Forte; 4×400 Relay; 3:08.83
WOMEN
Name, Event, Mark/Time
Brittani Carter, High Jump, 6-0
Samantha Henry, 100 meters, 11.37
Tenaya Jones, 100 hurdles, 13.69
Rachel Laurent, Pole Vault, 12-7 ?
Anna Lyons, Javelin, 157-3
Katelyn Rodrigue, Pole Vault, 13-1 ?
Cassandra Tate, 200 meters, 23.96
Kim Williams, Hammer Throw, 189-0
Kenyanna Wilson, 100 meters, 11.40
Davis, Tate, Henry, Wilson; 4×100 Relay; 43.84
Tate, Hall, Thomas, Thompson; 4×400 Relay; 3:36.06