BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana Sports Writers Association has announced its top college track and field honorees from this past year and athletes from LSU, Southeastern and UL-Lafayette were selected in a vote of state track media relations personnel.
Also the LSWA released its best times list for the past season based on national performance lists and submitted post-season results from the participating schools.
On the men’s side, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of LSU was named the track athlete of the year, while Devin King of Southeastern was awarded field athlete of the year. Jaron Flournoy (freshman) and Michael Cherry (newcomer) as well as Coach Dennis Shaver, all of LSU, rounded out those awards.
The female winners were Chanice Chase (LSU), track athlete of the year, with Morgann Leleux of UL-Lafayette earning both field and newcomer of the year awards. LSU’s Kortnei Johnson was named the freshman of the year and Mike Heimerman of Northwestern State and Shaver of LSU tied for women’s coach of the year honors.
Mitchell-Blake was part of LSU’s 4 x 100 relay championship team and runner-up in the NCAA 200 meters. The London, England junior was SEC Champion in the 100, 200 and the 4x 100. His winning time of 19.95 in the SEC 200 tied for the seventh-ranked time in NCAA history and fourth in the world this season. Blake won the Commissioners Trophy as the top men’s points’ scorer in meet.
Southeastern’s King, a sophomore from Kentwood, finished the season with the top pole vault in the country, a school-record 18-8.25 at the Texas Relays. For that effort he was named the USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week and became the Lions’ eighth two-time A-A after finishing third in both the NCAA indoor and outdoor events.
Freshman Flournoy of LSU was part of NCAA and SEC championship relay teams (4 x 100), leading off in both events. The NCAA champ team set a Hayward Field (Oregon) relay record of 38.42. The 38.33 time in the SECs in which she ran the first hundred was the eighth-fastest spring relay in NCAA history. The Detroit native qualified for the NCAAs in the 200 with a personal best of 20.69.
The award for first-year non-freshman and Cherry takes the award after transferring from Florida State to LSU. He was also involved in the relays, running the second leg on LSU’s 4×400 relay that swept the NCAA indoor and outdoor titles. Cherry also was third in the 400 meters in both NCAA championships, clocking a personal best of 45.11 in the NCAA Outdoor final.
On the women’s side, Chance was named A-A in three events (100 and 400 Hurdles and 4×400 relay) and was second in the SEC 400 hurdles. The Canadian senior was the top point scorer for LSU at the NCAA Outdoors with 8.5 points. She ran a PR in a fifth-place finish of the 400 hurdles (54.95), ranking No. 15 in the world rankings. She had a sixth place finish in the 100-hurdles with career-best wind-aided 12.90 time.
Leleux of UL-Lafayette earned both field athlete of newcomer of the year after the New Iberia senior transferred in from Georgia. Leleux, the Sun Belt Conference Field Student-Athlete of the Year earned first-team A-A honors after finishing second in the pole vault (14-1.25) at the NCAA Outdoors after winning the title at the SBC Championships at 14-10.
Johnson, from Italy, Texas, earned freshman honors with an NCAA Championship as part of the 4×100 relay team (a team that also took the SEC Championship), running the second leg. She was part of a team to run the 11th-fastest time in collegiate history at 42.65. She was the runner-up in the SEC outdoors in the 100 with a PR of 11.29.
Two coaches were honored this year in the voting: LSU’s Shaver in men and women and Heimerman of Northwestern State, sharing the women’s honor with the Tiger coach.
Shaver’s men fourth in the NCAA indoors and fifth in NCAA outdoors with three relay titles and 20 All-American honors in 2006 to go with seven SEC event titles. On the women’s side, the Lady Tigers were sixth (up from 11th in 2015) in the NCAA outdoors with 1 event title, 12 All-Americans and three SEC event titles.
Heimerman takes co-women’s coach honor after leading the Lady Demons to their highest point total in Southland Conference outdoor history, 112.3, as Northwestern State equaled its best team finish, second. His Lady Demons had five conference event wins and eight qualifiers for the NCAA championship rounds.
The complete list of LSWA Track and Field Bests as submitted by school media relations offices in the state:
MEN
100 METERS
Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, LSU/Jr./10.09/Texas Invitational/April 16, 2016
Jermey Hicks, Louisiana Tech/Jr./10.23/LSU Alumni Gold/April 23, 2016
Micah Larkins, Northwestern State/Fr./10.28/McNeese Relays/March 12, 2016
200 METERS
Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, LSU/Jr./19.95/SEC Championships/May 12, 2016
Renard Howell, LSU/Jr./20.15/SEC Championships/May 12, 2016
Tinashe Mutanga, LSU/Jr./20.50/Texas Invitational/April 16, 2016
400 METERS
Fitzroy Dunkley, LSU/Sr./45.06/NCAA Championships/June 10, 2016
Michael Cherry, LSU/Jr./45.11/NCAA Championships/June 10, 2016
Cyril Grayson, SLU/Sr./45.91/LSU Invitational/April 30, 2016
800 METERS
Blair Henderson, LSU/Jr./1:47.30/LSU Invitational/April 30, 2016
Cyril Grayson, LSU/Sr./1:49.35/Miami Twilight Invitational/March 25, 2016
Jack Wilkes, LSU/So./1:49.40/LSU Invitational/April 30, 2016
1500 METERS
Blair Henderson, LSU/Jr./3:45.20/LSU Invitational/April 30, 2016
Dajour Braxton, LSU/Fr./3:46.04/LSU Invitational/April 30, 2016
Oliver James, McNeese/3:46.81/Bryan Clay Invitational/April 14, 2016
5,000 METERS
Hassan Chepkwony, Grambling/Fr./14:21.67/USM Invitational/April 15, 2016
Moses Aloiloi, Tulane/So./14:24.10/American Championships/May 12, 2016
Dajour Braxton, LSU/Fr./14:26.52/SEC Championships/May 12, 2016
10,000 METERS
Moses Aloiloi, Tulane/So./30:02.99/Penn Relays/April 28, 2016
Enrique Soto, McNeese/Jr./30:10.43/Mt. SAC Relays/April 14, 2016
Nathan Jones, McNeese/So./30:24.36/Mt. SAC Relays/April 14, 2016
110 HURDLES
Jordan Moore, LSU/Jr./13.53/SEC Championships/May 12, 2016
Tramaine Maloney, Louisiana Tech/Sr./13.80/LSU Alumni Golf/April 23, 2016
Michael Nicholls, UNO/Fr./13.91/SLC Championships/May 6, 2016
400 HURDLES
George Flaviano, Northwestern State/Jr./51.21/SLC Championships/May 6, 2016
Andre Phillips, ULM/Jr./52.61/SBC Championships/May 13, 2016
Andre Hewitt, Grambling/Jr./53.16/SWAC Championship/May 6, 2016
3000 STEEPLECHASE
Emmanual Rotich, Tulane/Fr./8:59.90/American Championships/May 16, 2016
Christian Johnson, LSU/Jr./9:09.12/SEC Championships/May 12, 2016
Enock Bor, McNeese/Sr./9:23.71/LSU Alumni Gold/April 23, 2016
4 x 100 RELAY
LSU-Flournoy, Howell, Acy, Mitchell-Blake/38.33/SEC Championships/May 12, 2016
Northwestern State-James, Larkins, Flaviano, Shilling/39.69/NCAA Championships/June 8, 2016
Louisiana Tech-Statham, Hicks, Bradberry, Samuels/40.33/LSU Alumni Gold/April 23, 2016
4 x 400 RELAY
LSU-Bruton, Cherry, Grayson, Dunkley/3.00.38/LSU Alumni Gold/April 23, 2016
Northwestern State-James, Larkins, White, Faviano/3:10.18/Southeastern Inv./March 25, 2016
ULM-Cribbs, Johnson, Demus, Tate/3:12.22/SBC Championships/May 5, 2016
HIGH JUMP
David Parker, Grambling/Fr./7-0.25/SWAC Championships/May 6, 2016
Clarence Robinson, Southeastern/Sr./6-11.75/McNeese Spring Classic/April 9, 2016
Franz Beyer, UL-Lafayette/So./6-11/McNeese Relays/March 12, 2016
POLE VAULT
Devin King, Southeastern Louisiana/So./18-8.25/Texas Relays/March 30, 2016
Kyle Baudoin, UL-Lafayette/Fr./17-5/Texas Relays/March 30, 2016
Cameron Robichaux, LSU/Jr./16-8/Battle on Bayou/April 9, 2016
LONG JUMP
Emmanuel Williams, Northwestern State/Sr./25-8.25/SLC Championships/May 6, 2016
Jemal Parharm, ULM/So./25-8/SBC Championships/May 13, 2016
Aaron Williams, Northwestern State/Sr./25-1.25/UT Arlington Invitational/March 26, 2016
TRIPLE JUMP
Aaron Williams, Northwestern State/Sr./52-10/Johnson Invitational/April 8, 2016
Emmanuel Williams, Northwestern State/Sr./51-9/Mize Invitational/March 18, 2016
Corey Wesley, ULM/Sr./51-6.25/Mize Invitational/March 18, 2016
SHOT PUT
Cedric Paul, Northwestern State/So./57-6.5/Johnson Invitational/April 8, 2016
Kyle Weiss, ULM/So./56-2.5/McNeese Relays/March 12, 2016
Jimmy LeBlanc, Southeastern Louisiana/Sr./55-10.5/LSU Alumni Golf/April 23, 2016
DISCUS
Alton Clay, ULM/Jr./178-6/Miss. State Invitational/April 30, 2016
Jevaughn Shaw, ULM/Jr./174-4/Miss. State Invitational/April 30, 2016
Johnnie Jackson, LSU/Jr./174-2/Miss. State Invitational/April 30, 2016
HAMMER
Johnnie Jackson, LSU/Jr./217-1/Texas Relays/March 30, 2016
David Collins, LSU/Sr./212-2/Texas Invitational/April 16, 2016
Patrick Geers, LSU/Sr./212-0/Miami Twilight Invitational/March 25, 2016
JAVELIN
Donavon Banks, McNeese/Fr./219-2/SLC Championships/May 6, 2016
Bartul Basic, UL-Lafayette/So./218-9/Miss. State Invitational/May 6, 2016
Kyle Zenon, McNeese/So./211-8/Louisiana Classic/March 25, 2016
DECATHLON
Franz Beyer, UL-Lafayette/So./6830/SBC Championships/May 13, 2016
Angus Sinclair, UL-Lafayette/Jr./6584/SBC Championships/May 13, 2016
Jordan Patrick, Louisiana Tech/Fr./6063/C-USA Championships/May 12, 2016
MEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, LSU
MEN’S FIELD ATHELTE OF THE YEAR – Devin King, Southeastern
MEN’S FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Jaron Flournoy, LSU
MEN’S NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR – Michael Cherry, LSU
MEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR – Dennis Shaver, LSU
—
WOMEN
100 METERS
Kortnei Johnson, LSU/Fr./11.13/LSU Invitational/April 30, 2016
Mikiah Brisco, LSU/So./11.13/NCAA Championships/June 11, 2016
Jada Martin, LSU/Jr./11.24/LSU Alumni Gold/April 23, 2016
200 METERS
Jada Martin, LSU/Jr./22.41/NCAA East Prelims/May 28, 2016
Kortnei Johnson, LSU/Fr./22.67/NCAA East Prelims/May 28, 2016
Lilla McMillan, Tulane/Sr./23.00/American Championships/May 12, 2016
400 METERS
Lilla McMillan, Tulane/Sr./51.38/American Championships/May 12, 2016
Jasmine Blocker, Tulane/Sr./51.66/American Championships/May 12, 2016
Jada Martin, LSU/Jr./52.94/Hurricane Twilight/March 25, 2016
800 METERS
Morgan Schuetz, LSU/Jr./2:02.29/LSU Alumni Gold/April 23, 2016
Hollie Parker, LSU/Fr./2:08.76/Battle on Bayou/April 9, 2016
Hannah Deworth, LSU/So./2:09.11/SEC Championships/May 12, 2016
1500 METERS
Morgan Schuetz, LSU/Jr./4:20.21/LSU Invitational/April 30, 2016
Hollie Parker, LSU/Fr./4:26.92/Miami Twilight Invitational/March 25, 2016
Erika Lewis, LSU/Fr./4:37.66/Texas invitational/April 12, 2016
5000 METERS
Gemma Bridge, McNeese/Sr./17:10.28/Florida Relays/March 31, 2016
Katja Woelfl, McNeese/So./17:18.31/Florida Relays/March 31, 2016
Emma Newton, Tulane/Fr./17:29.19/Victor Lopez Relays/March 25, 2016
10000 METERS
Gemma Bridge, McNeese/Sr./35:55.93/Mt. SAC Relays/April 14, 2016
Lauren Bartels, Tulane/Fr./36:26.94/Penn Relays/April 28, 2016
Katja Woelfl, McNeese/So./36:55.19/SLC Championships/May 6, 2016
100 HURDLES
Chanice Chase, LSU/Sr./12.90/NCAA Championships/June 11, 2016
Daeshon Gordon, LSU/So./12.99/LSU Alumni Gold/April 23, 2016
Mikiah Brisco, LSU/So./13.02/NCAA East Prelims/May 28, 2016
400 HURDLES
Chanice Chase, LSU/Sr./54.94/NCAA Championships/June 11, 2016
Kymber Payne, LSU/So./56.38/NCAA East Prelims/May 27, 2016
Ka’Lynn Jupiter, LSU/Jr./56.63/NCAA East Prelims/May 27, 2016
3000 STEEPLECHASE
Claire Hodges, UL-Lafayette/Jr./10:49.24/SBC Championships/May 13, 2016
Mckenzie Melius, Tulane/Fr./10:54.59/American Championships/May 12, 2016
Alison Smegal, McNeese/So./11:08.72/LSU Alumni Gold/April 23, 2016
4X100 RELAY
LSU-Brisco, Johnson, Martin, Harvey/42.65/NCAA Championships/June 11, 2016
Grambling-Simon, Carter, Beverly, Jones/44.73/SWAC Championships/May 6, 2016
Tulane-Duckett, McMillan, Brazzel, Blocker/44.89/American Championships/May 12, 2016
4X400 RELAY
LSU-Misher, Martin, Jones, Chase/3:29.82/NCAA Championships/June 11, 2016
Tulane-Duckett, Blocker, Adamson, McMillan/3:36.07/American Championships/May 12, 2016
Grambling-Simons, Carter, Broadnax, Jones/3:42.18/SWAC Championships/May 6, 2016
HIGH JUMP
Shanice Hall, LSU/Sr./5-10/LSU Invitational/April 30, 2016
Chloe Lautric, Louisiana Tech/Jr./5-8.75/Mize Invitational/March 18, 2016
Alex Harrell, UL-Lafayette/Sr./ 5-7.25/SBC Championships/May 13, 2016
POLE VAULT
Morgann Leleux, UL-Lafayette/Sr./14-10/SBC Championships/May 13, 2016
Nicole Casper, McNeese/Sr./13-10/LSU Alumni Gold/April 23, 2016
Mary Carson Pitts, Tulane/Jr./13-5.25/NCAA East Prelims/May 27, 2016
LONG JUMP
Nataliyah Friar, LSU/Jr./20-9/LSU Alumni Gold/April 23, 2016
Mia Adams, Louisiana Tech/Sr./20-7/Mize Invitational/March 18, 2016
Adriunna Brown, ULM/Jr./20-3/SBC Championships/May 13, 2016
TRIPLE JUMP
Nataliyah Friar, LSU/Jr./42-6.75/NCAA East Prelims/May 28, 2016
Porsha Thomas, Northwestern State/Sr./42-5.25/LSU Alumni Gold/April 23, 2016
Tamika Brazzel, Tulane/Sr./42-2.25/American Championships/May 12, 2016
SHOT PUT
Taylor Potts, Tulane/Jr./50-8/American Championships/May 12, 2016
Jermisha Frazier, Southeastern/49-9.25/SLC Championships/May 6, 2016
Kenya Wheeler, Grambling/48-4.75/SWAC Championships/May 6, 2016
DISCUS
Rechelle Bessard, Northwestern State/Sr./177-4/Texas Relays/March 30, 2016
Alexis Gordon, ULM/Jr./158-11/McNeese Relays/March 12, 2016
Rakira Turner, McNeese/Sr./157-0/Louisiana Classic/March 25, 2016
HAMMER
Jermisha Frazier, Southeastern/Sr./207-4/Alabama Relays/March 17, 2016
Sidnie Wilder, LSU/So./183-1/SEC Championships/May 12, 2016
Rechelle Bessard, Northwestern State/181-3/SLC Championships/May 6, 2016
JAVELIN
Rebekah Wales, LSU/Jr./180-7/SEC Championships/May 12, 2016
Daliadiz Ortiz, Tulane/Jr./167-7/Long Beach Invitational/April 15, 2016
Annie Simoneaux, LSU/Sr./165-4/Texas Relays/March 30, 2016
HEPTATHLON
Farydah Inoussa, UNO/Jr./5164/SLC Championships/May 6, 2016
Jasmin Fusilier, UL-Lafayette/Sr./4986/SBC Championships/May 13, 2016
Kaitlyn Moreau, UL-Lafayette/Sr./4869/SBC Championships/May 13, 2016
WOMEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Chanice Chase, LSU
WOMEN’s FIELD ATHELTE OF THE YEAR – Morgann Leleux, UL-Lafayette
WOMEN’S FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Kortnei Johnson, LSU
WOMEN’S NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR – Morgann Leleux, UL-Lafayette
WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR – (tie) Mike Heimerman, Northwestern State; Dennis Shaver, LSU