AUSTIN, Texas — All-American sprinter Lueroy Colquhoun posted the fastest intermediate hurdles qualifying time on the day as the LSU track and field team got off to a fast start in limited action on day one of the Texas Relays.
Colquhoun, a fourth place finisher in the 400-meter dash at the NCAA Indoor Championships last month, made an impressive statement by clocking the fastest preliminary time in the 400-meter hurdles.
Colquhoun seized control of the race after 150 meters and gradually extended his lead, winning his heat in an extremely fast NCAA provisional time of 50.20 seconds, more than two seconds ahead of his nearest competitor in the race.
Colquhoun’s time was one of only two sub-51 second times on the day and he earns the top seed heading into Saturday’s final in the event.
Fred Sharpe of Auburn posted the second fastest time of the day, clocking a 50.96 to win his heat. It sets up a rematch of a tremendous race in Baton Rouge on March 16 when Sharpe edged Colquhoun by .01 with a winning time of 50.10.
“That’s a great race for Lueroy,” said LSU head coach Pat Henry. “He looked very comfortable and relaxed and ran his race. He’s still learning the event but he’s progressing incredibly well, it’s only the fourth time he’s every run the 400-hurdles. It should be a fantastic final on Saturday.”
Elsewhere on the track for the Tigers, Likhaya Dayile finished third in the 5,000-meter run, running a time of 14:25.98. The senior stayed with the lead pack for the entire race but Herbert Mwangi of TCU and Mark Menefee of Kansas out-kicked Dayile over the last lap. Mwangi won the event in a time of 14:20.96.
Doria Appleberry continued to look sharp in the women’s 400-meter hurdles and advanced to Saturday’s final by finishing second in her heat. The freshman from Dallas, Texas ran a time of 59.47, just off her season best time, to finish second in her heat. Appleberry’s time was the fifth fastest overall on the day.
Teammate Althea Thomas did not advance but ran her fastest time of the season, circling the oval in 1:01.29.
In the field, Mallory McDonald came up with a four-foot personal best in the hammer and finished fourth with a throw of 181-9. Candice Gonzalez placed 11th with a throw of 169-1.
The Texas Relays pick up steam tomorrow when the short relay prelims get underway, as well as several field event finals. Included in the field events on Friday will be the men’s long jump with Olympian Walter Davis among the favorites for the event. Davis finished second in the long jump last year.