Jan. 31, 2014
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Louisiana Tech’s track and field program dominated regional rivals Southern Miss, UAB and ULM at the Southern Miss Invitational that concluded late Thursday at the CrossPlex in Birmingham.
In all, Louisiana Tech recorded a combined 45 top-eight finishes at the meet while ULM placed second with 25 top-eight finishes. Southern Miss (11) and UAB (1) rounded out the regional rivals that LA Tech faced in the meet.
Pamela Lee won the high jump for the second consecutive, recording one of LA Tech’s six event wins in the meet. Her height of 5-7 (1.70m) was two inches higher than Georgia State’s Alex Johnson, who finished second with a mark of 5-5 (1.65m).
Lee’s win was one of three wins in the jumps as Charla Craddock won the long jump with a personal jump of 19-9 (6.02m), winning by three inches. Craddock also finished second in the 60m dash, running 7.59 to tie a personal record time.
Jamelia Johnson’s win in the triple jump led a 1-2-4-5 finish in the event, leading the way with a jump of 39-9.75 (12.13m) while Laticia Watson finished second with a mark of 38-10.5 (11.85m). Mia Adams jumped 38-1.5 (11.62m) to finish fourth while Denisha Henix finished fifth, jumping 38-0.25 (11.59m). Henix also finished sixth in the long jump with a mark of 18-3.75 (5.58m).
The women’s 4x400m relay dominated with a two-second win over Georgia State as the Lady Techster quartet led by Cassie Divin ran 3:48.50. A freshman, Divin led off a relay team that included Taneka Henderson, Diamond Every and Alexis Young. Divin also was the top Lady Techster in the 400m as she ran 57.80 to finish fourth while Every placed sixth with a time of 58.45.
Kim Francis also claimed a win in the 60m hurdles, running 8.29 for the second meet in a row while Bianca Jacksonran a personal record time of 8.42 to finish third. Marlesia Carey followed with a time of 8.51 to finish fourth. Francis also finished fifth in the 60m dash “A” section, running 7.68 after running 7.66 in the prelims.
In the throws, SaBrittany Angelle finished third in the shot put with a throw of 44-8 (13.61m) while Aprell Williamsfinished third in the weight throw with a personal record throw of 50-3.25 (15.32m).
On the men’s side, Trey Hadnot anchored the 4x400m relay “A” team that won with a time of 3:17.70, edging out the relay squad from ULM by one-tenth (0.10) of a second. The senior from Ruston, La., also finished fourth in the 60m dash with a time of 6.77 after running 6.79 in the prelims.
Joining Hadnot on the winning 4x400m relay was Jaquvis Hart, Andrew Hunt and Darius Statham. Hart also recorded a fourt-place finish in the 400m with a time of 49.75 while Hunt ran 22.03 in the 200m to finish second.
The Bulldogs claimed a 4-5 finish in the 800m as Tor Gach ran 1:58.75 to finish fourth while Erik Petersson ran 1:59.27 to finish fifth. Anthony Plourde also claimed a fourth-place finish as he ran 4:18.00 in the mile.
Devin Henderson jumped 23-0.75 (7.03m) to finish third in the long jump while Adairius Barnes, in his first appearance of the season, finished fourth in the triple jump with a mark of 46-11 (14.30m), beating ULM’s Corey Wesley by 7.5 inches.
Aaron Orduno notched a pair of fourth-place finishes as he set a personal best mark in the weight throw with a toss of 54-1 (16.48m) while throwing the shot put 50-7.25 (15.42m).
Louisiana Tech returns to action on Feb. 14-15 as it travels to Fayetteville, Ark. for the Tyson Invitational hosted by the University of Arkansas.
For complete coverage of Tech Track and Field and Cross Country, please follow @LATechTandF on Twitter or visit the official home of Louisiana Tech Athletics at LATechSports.com.