FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- The quest for a three-peat championship got on the right foot Friday for Louisiana Tech's track and field team at the Razorback Invite Friday and Saturday with multiple first place finishes and NCAA provisional performances.
"We had a very good meet," Tech head coach Gary Stanley said of his team's performance. "We had three winners and a host of NCAA marks. Anytime you go to a meet and face off with teams like Arkansas and TCU and come out with winner, you feel pretty good. It was a solid opener for our season."
Senior Nina Gilbert led the way in the women's 400-meter dash with a school record breaking time of 53.29 seconds, while in the women's 800, Tenisha Mays brought home first with a time of 2:16.70. Senior Miriam Barnes finished with a collegiate fifth place in the 800 with a 2:13.29 time.
The 4x400 relay team of Gilbert, senior Latonia Wilson, Barnes and true freshman Kamelia Stroy took first with a mark of 3:37.41.
Nadia Alexander took a first place finish in the women's shot put with a mark of 51 feet, 10 inches. Shaterika Allen finished fourth at 48-08.75.
Senior Lasadies McClain took a fourth place finish in the women's 60 on a time of 7.77, and in the women's 400, senior Krystal Cole timed 55.95 for a tenth place finish.
Senior Latonia Wilson finished third in the women's 200-meter dash with a time of 24.05 seconds, while McClain came in 14th with a time of 24.97.
Latoya Collins got Tech a fourth place finish in the women's long jump after hitting 19-0.50, and finished seventh in the women's triple jump with a 38-00.00 jump.
On the men's side, senior Jason Morgan finished second in the shot put after a mark of 56-03.75. Clyde Smith finished ninth in the event at 48-08.25. Morgan also had a third place throw of 57-10.50 in the men's weight throw, while Smith finished seventh at 49-09.25.
2006 WAC Outdoor Freshman of the Year Michael Coleman had a collegiate seventh place finish in the 200 with a time of 21.88, and in the men's 800 sophomore Cory Denstel finished twelfth at 1:58.26.
Senior Tim Marshall finished ninth in the men's 5000 at 15:40.99, while Nate Davis finished eleventh at 15:58.23. Junior Kinsey Dinnel finished a collegiate seventh place with a mark of 8:51.85.
Matthew Craig took tenth in the men's long jump at 22-08.00.