2011 Southland Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships Results

NATCHITOCHES, La. - Senior distance runner Lauren Jones netted the Colonels three points to kick off day one of the 2011 Southland Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships for the Nicholls State University women's track and field team at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La. on Friday.

Jones, the only Nicholls athlete to compete on day one of the championship meet, clocked in with a time of 38:21.59 in the 10K, finishing less than 90 seconds off the first place time and less than two minutes off her school and career record performance set in April at the Mt. SAC Relays.

Jones' performance netted the Colonels their first three points of the 2011 meet.  The Colonels entered the weekend ranked fifth in the Southland Conference and are looking to better their 2010 school record 11th place finish and 43 point total and the conference meet.

The rest of the Nicholls track team will open action on Saturday, the second day of the three-day meet.  Senior high jumper Chelsea Dockrey, currently ranked second in the conference in the high jump, will start the day for the Colonels by looking for a Southland Conference championship when the high jump gets underway at 1 p.m.  The Colonels will also be counting on strong performances from junior sprinter Samantha Calhoun (tied for first in the 100 m), senior 3K steeplechase runner and defending conference champion Kadi Whisnant (first in the conference in the 3K steeplechase) and a quintet of javelin throwers set to perform on Saturday night.

Jones will return to action on Sunday when she competes in the 5K beginning at 4:45 p.m. in Natchitoches.