LAFAYETTE-Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns men’s and women’s track and field teams hosted the Louisiana Classics track meet Thursday-Saturday, March 20-22 at the Ragin’ Cajuns Track/Soccer Facility. Two athletes qualified for the NCAA Regional Meet.
Highlighting the meet for the Cajuns were freshman Chris Roy, who qualified in the men’s pole vault, and sophomore Stacey Fuller, who qualified in the men’s 400-meter hurdles.
Senior Ben Leonards broke the school record in the men’s hammer throw, and freshman Taryn
Simmons tied the school record in the women’s 400-meter hurdles.
For the UL men, Roy qualified for the NCAA Regional Meet in the pole vault with his mark of 16 feet, 6 3/4 inches. Roy’s mark was good enough to place him first. Fuller placed first in the 400-meter dash with his time of 52 seconds. Fuller beat the NCAA qualifying mark by .51 seconds.
Leonards set a new school record in the hammer throw with his mark of 135 feet, 6 inches. The previous record was set at 132 feet, 4 inches by Brett Broudreaux on March 24, 2001. Leonards finished second in the event.
Sophomore Roderick Houston placed first in the 200-meter dash with his time of 21.40 seconds, just narrowly missing the NCAA qualifying time.
Freshman Brent Adams placed first in the high jump with a mark of 6 feet, 4 3/4 inches. Freshman Kenneth Bellard continued to impress with his mark of 21 feet, 7 1/4 inches in the long jump.
For the UL women, Simmons tied the school record in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:01.20. She ties D’Nais Jones, who first set the record on May 12, 1996. Simmons’ time was good enough to place her second. It was Simmon’s first time to compete in the event.
Senior Amy Doucet placed first in the javelin throw. Doucet posted a mark of 117 feet in the event.
Head Coach Steve Silvey said he was impressed with his freshman and was proud of his first place finishers and NCAA qualifiers.
“The freshman did a great job,” Silvey said. “Rod Houston did a great job, so did Stacey Fuller, Taryn Simmons, Ben Leonards, Kenneth Bellard, Chris Roy and Brent Adams. Next week we will compete at LSU and will see more competition.”
LAFAYETTE-Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns men’s and women’s track and field teams hosted the Louisiana Classics track meet Thursday-Saturday, March 20-22 at the Ragin’ Cajuns Track/Soccer Facility. Two athletes qualified for the NCAA Regional Meet.
