BATON ROUGE — The LSU track and field team had an efficient second day of competition, advancing well for the second consecutive day at the NCAA Outdoor Championships at Bernie Moore Stadium.
The Tigers remain in second place behind Georgia with 11 points while the Lady Tigers have yet to have a final involving any of their participants.
UCLA continues to lead the women’s competition with 25 points while Washington State and Kansas State sit second and third respectively.
The Lady Tigers were particularly sharp on the track and advanced in all areas. Muna Lee and Stephanie Durst moved on the 100-meter semifinals with a 1-2 finish in preliminary action.
Lee posted the fastest qualifying time overall with a winning time of 11.28 run in a legal wind, while Durst clocked an 11.49.
In the 100-meter hurdles, Lolo Jones finished second in her heat but moved on, finishing second to Susanna Kallur of Illinois. Kallur won with a time of 13.20, while Jones grabbed one of the three automatic semifinal qualifying spots with a time of 13.28.
On the men’s side, Pete Coley appeared every bit the title contender he was figured to be in the 400-meter dash. Coley won his heat in a time of 45.09, the second fastest time overall of the day behind Gary Kikhaya of Tennessee who clocked in at 45.01. The two went 1-2 at the SEC Outdoor Championships two weeks ago, with Kikhaya grabbing a narrow victory.
Coley returned to anchor the Tigers to victory in the 4×400-meter relay, as he held off Baylor anchor Karold Williamson who made a late charge. The foursome of Lueroy Colquhoun, Marlon Greensword, Bennie Brazell and Coley combined to run the fastest time of the day, a 3:03.89 that set the tone for what will be a very fast final on Saturday.
In the only field event involving an LSU athlete, Blake Theriot finished 17th in the men’s javelin.
Friday will be a busy day of action for both squads, Walter Davis will look to make it a sweep of the horizontal jumps, as the triple jump will be contested at 6:45 p.m. CT. In addition, finals will take place in the 4×100-meter relay where both LSU squads clocked the fastest marks in preliminary action, while the men’s 400-meter hurdle final will be critical to the Tigers’ hopes for the men’s crown.
Race Reviews (5/30/02)
Men’s 110 Hurdles
Heat 1
Defending champion Ron Bramlet out to a fast start and maintains lead for the entire race (13.54). Antwon Hicks also out to a strong start and was pushed by Eddie Jackson, but held on for second (13.59) with the lean. Top six finishers were from the SEC.
Heat 2
Jermaine Cooper runs out to a fast start and takes the lead until the seventh hurdle, when Todd Matthews and Chris Pinnock begin the surge. Matthews takes over at the eighth and crosses first in 13.59. Pinnock second in 13.69, while Cooper and Derek Zachary crossed with a pair of 13.72s.
Heat 3
After a slow start, Ryan Wilson catches up with Lewis Edmonson and Micah Harris. The three ran evenly from the fifth hurdle on. Wilson wins at the line in 13.74, while Edmonson was second (13.78) and Harris was third (13.81).
Women’s 100 Hurdles
Heat 1
Hannah Cooper was first out of the blocks, but 2002 indoor champion Perdita Felicien quickly took over after the first hurdle and cruised to the win in 13.11. Running second was Cooper who held on at 13.21, while Jennie Wonder took third with a lean at 13.32.
Heat 2
Collegiate leader Danielle Carruthers quickly distanced herslelf from the pack and had a sizable lead at the third hurdle and won easily in 13.05. Nicole Denby out-legged a group of four vying for second in 13.30, while Natasha Neal was one spot back in 13.31.
Heat 3
It was a two-woman race between Lolo Jones and Susanna Kallur from the start. Jones was out to a strong start and led through six hurdles before a Kallur charged pulled her even after eight. Kallur was quicker over the final two and won in 13.20, followed by Jones in 13.28.
Men’s 400 Meters
Heat 1
Pete Coley was out extremely quick and had a sizable lead at 200 meters. Brandon Simpson made up ground on the final turn and the two were running together down the stretch to the tape. Over the final 60, Coley pushed ahead by two meters and won with a lean in 45.09. Simpson was second in 45.12.
Heat 2
Darold Williamson separated from a three-man pack at 200 meters and led comfortably with 100 meters remaining. Sanjay Ayre and Jonathon Fortenberry began to challenge from the inside, but Williamson held them off for the victory in 45.23. Fortenberry faded and Ayre took second in 45.31.
Heat 3
Mike Kenyon took the race out fast and led with 200 meters remaining. Gary Kikaya then turned on the jets in the final turn to make up considerable ground and grab the lead. He cruised to the easy win in 45.01. Kenyon held on for second in 45.41.
Heat 4
Rickey Harris and Godfrey Herring pulled away from the field in the final turn with Herring holding a two-meter with 100 meters to race. Harris found another gear and with 50 meters to go had the race wrapped up and won the heat in 45.34. Herring held off a hard charging Otis Harris (45.65)for second in 45.61.
Women’s 400 Meters
Heat 1
Monique Henderson off to a smooth start and held a comfortable lead at 200 meters. Entering the final straight, her lead was two meters over Tonette Dyer and Nickeisha Charles. With 50 meters remaining, all three were vying for the top spot along with Oluyemi Fagbamila. Charles edged Henderson (52.36) over the final five meters to take the heat in 52.33, while Henderson held off a lunging Dyer (52.41) and a fading Fagbamila (52.56).
Heat 2
Adia McKinnon took the race out quickly and led at the 200-meter mark before fading in the final turn. Collegiate leader Leshinda Demus and Lesley Owusu started to make up ground and with 100 meters remaining it was Demus and Owusu at the front. Demus pulled away for the heat win in 51.78, followed by a late driving Michele Davis (52.37). Owusu was third in 52.55, holding off Nakiya Johnson (52.60).
Heat 3
Demetria Washington led from start to finish and was not challenged, winning the heat in 51.51. She pulled teammate Me’Lisa Barber to second place in 52.01, while Liz Grow was third in 52.50.
Heat 4
Edi Ntuen built an early lead over the first 150 meters, but faded on the back stretch as Ronetta Smith and Tia Trent made up ground. Smith took the lead in the final turn and led with 50 meters remaining until defending indoor and outdoor champion Allison Beckford exploded to the front to win easily in 51.57. Smith was unchallenged for second in 52.17.
Men’s 100
Heat 1
Terence Newman took the lead with a strong start out of the blocks. After an evenly contested race down the infield, Pierre Brown leaded for the win at 10.25. Newman held second in 10.26, while Aaron Egbele (10.28) and Brian Johnson (10.29) were close behind.
Heat 2
Leonard Scott got out of the blocks quickly and held the lead halfway through. Dwight Thomas pulled even with 30 meters remaining and sealed the win over the final 10 in 10.18. A late charge by Michael Frater (10.26) nipped Scott (10.27) for second place.
Heat 3
It was a competitive start between Justin Gatlin, Anson Henry and Nikela Ndebele. With 50 meters, Gatlin and Henry pulled ahead. The two battled to the tape, with Gatlin surging to the win at 10.15. Henry was second in 10.23 and a fading Ndeble held third (10.37).
Women’s 100
Heat 1
Tahesia Harrigan got out of the blocks first and led through 40 meters. However, Muna Lee dominated the race over the final 50 and won easliy in 11.28. A furious charge by Stephanie Durst helped her pass Harrigan for second at 11.49.
Heat 2
Three-time defending champion Angela Williams led from start to finish and took the heat win in a leisurely 11.39. Aleen Bailey and Brianna Glenn mounted a serious challenge at the final 10 meters, but settled for second and third in 11.42 and 11.49, respectively.
Heat 3
A two-woman race featured Natasha Mayers and Lauryn Williams from start to finish. But it was Mayers won went wire-to-wire for a driving 11.36 win. Williams (11.40) held off a driving Elva Goulbourne in 11.46.
Men’s 1,500
Heat 1
Adrian Blincoe, Chris Mulvaney and Scott McGowan held form at 1-2-3 until the bell lap. With 300 meters remaining, national leader Dan Wilson shot to the head of the pack and had a comfortable lead exiting the final turn. He crossed the line unchallenged, while Brandon Strong came from the back of the lead pack to beat Donald Sage for second.
Heat 2
In an extremely tight race, Grant Robinson was at the head of a furious late charge by the entire field, and took the heat in 3:45.11. Charlie Gruber, who led most of the race including the bell lap, crossed second in 3:45.13. On the outside, Alan Webb pushed from the middle of the pack to finish third (3:45.14) ahead of Sean O’Brien (3:45.18), who was leading with 100 meters to go. The race was separated by only .5 seconds, while the top six had only .11 between them.
Women’s 1,500
Heat 1
Londa Bevins set the pace for the race until, with 200 meters remaining, Lena Nisson made her move and surged to the front. Coming off the final turn, Nisson was locked in a battle with Natalie Hughes. Nisson out-kicker Hughes over the final 70 meters and won at 4:23.42. Hughes held on for runner-up (4:24.23) and Heather Sagan passed a fading Bevins to take third.
Heat 2
A separated field was led until the bell lap by Shalene Flanagan. After some jostling entering the curve, Maurica Carlucci and Christin Wurth pulled to the front, and on the backstretch Wurth took sole possession of the lead. Flanagan moved back to the front of the pack coming off the final turn and she battled Wurth to the tape. Wurth took the heat in 4:16.80, followed by Flanagan at 4:16.84. Carlucci and Lauren King battled evenly over the final 100 meters with Carlucci taking third by .01 in 4:17.00.
Men’s 4×400 Relay
Heat 1
Stefan Pastor and Florida held a three-meter lead midway through the third leg, but South Carolina’s Otis Harris and LSU’s Bennie Brazell passed on the final turn and approached the exchange 1-2. South Carolina’s Jonathon Fortenberry took the stick and tried to cut inside, but fumbled the baton to the infield and LSU’s Pete Coley took off unchallenged. Coley held a sizable lead with 200 remaining when Baylor’s Darold Williamson made his move. Coley held off the charge to win in 3:03.89, followed by Florida and South Carolina.
Heat 2
Texas Tech’s Julican Raeburn carried the Red Raiders to the lead at the break and had a five-meter lead at the second exchange. Tech’s lead shrunk at the end of the third leg and Arizona State’s Steve Finch put the Sun Devils ahead by a few meters in the final leg. Arizona State and Texas Tech were about 10 meters ahead of Tennessee anchor Gary Kikaya in the backstretch. Over the final 100, Kikaya exploded past the field and stunned the crowd as he won comfortably in 3:04.59. Tech was runner-up in 3:05.11, while ASU was a distant fifth in 3:05.36.
Women’s 4×400 Relay
Heat 1
Texas’ Keasha Downer held a seven-meter lead at the break and continued to lead until the final 100 meters of the second leg, when Adia McKinnon of UCLA passed and gave the Bruins a three-meter edge at the second exchange. Texas’ Raasin McIntosh reclaimed the lead at the start of the final turn and held off UCLA’s Sheena Johnson until the exchange. Moushaumi Robinson took the stick first and helped the Longhorns maintain a slight lead over UCLA’s Monique Henderson until the final 40 meters. UCLA and Texas finished a close 1-2 in 3:28.58 and 3:28.73, respectively. Baylor was a distant third in 3:30.99.
Heat 2
At the break, Miami’s Jamillah Wade sprinted to a 15-meter lead but faded down the stretch and passed to Jenise Winston with only a three-meter advantage. Running second was Notre Dame’s Alesha Boyd, and the two battled evenly at 1-2 until the final turn when South Carolina’s Me’Lisa Barber burst to the front and handed to Demetria Washington. Washington was not challenged and walked home in 3:30.49. Nakiya Johnson of USC, running in fifth at the final exchange, started her move in the final exchange and pushed into second with 60 meters remaining to clinch runner-up in 3:31.86 ahead of Miami’s Kitoya Carter (3:32.58).
Women’s 3,000 Steeplechase
Heat 1
Carol Henry led the field narrowly for the majority of the first 1,600 meters, but extended her lead to 15 meters with 800 remaining. The lead was better than 30 meters at the bell lap and she cruised to the heat win in 10:07.10. Roisin McGettigan in 10:11.23 was second, with Katie Sabino third in 10:11.86.
Heat 2
Toledo’s Briana Shook rocketed to a 100-meter lead halfway through the race and held a better-than 35-meter lead with 500 meters to run when Michaela Manova made her move toward Shook. Mollie Defrancesco and Ida Nilsson followed behind Manova by 20 meters. Shook was caught by a stalking Manova at the final steeple but Shook came back with a jolt to the finish to win in 9:58.97. Manova was second in 9:59.54, while Nilsson held off a late charge for third at 10:05.09.
Men’s 10,000
NCAA cross country champion Boaz Cheboiywo earned the double as the Kenyan ran away from the field in 28:32.10, thirty seconds better than second-place and defending champion Ryan Shay of Notre Dame (29:02.92). Cheboiywo’s time was a stadium record.