LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns track and field team wrapped up a busy weekend on Saturday, earning a total of seven first-place finishes in meets at South Alabama and McNeese State.
The Ragin' Cajuns will return to action with a pair of meets beginning Friday competing in the Southeastern Invitational in Hammond before heading to Baton Rouge to compete in the LSU Alumni Gold meet on Saturday.
"It was a very successful weekend," head coach Lon Badeaux said. "We had some kids really step up and improve themselves in the conference and region. It wasn't perfect, but I think we are definitely moving forward as we hit the meat of our schedule."
SOUTH ALABAMA INVITATIONAL
After picking up three first-place finishes on Friday, the Ragin' Cajuns earned five first-place finishes on the final day of the two-day meet at Jaguar Track.
Matt Rice (800-meter dash) and Dionte Heath (high jump) each claimed top individual honors on the men's side with the men's 4x400-meter relay team earning a first-place finish by nearly six seconds over its next competitor. On the women's side, Lindsey Harmon (high jump) and Tia Mitchell (long jump) earned first-place finishes.
Rice, who earned a pair of first-place finishes in the 1,500-meters earlier in the season, crossed the finish line in a time of 1:53.73 to set a season-best by nearly two seconds. The Ragin' Cajuns shaved nearly six seconds off their season-best time in the 4x400-meter relay after clocking a time of 3:17.67 and finishing ahead of Tulane (3:23.08).
Heath, competing in the high jump for the first time during the outdoor season, cleared the bar at 6 feet, 7 inches.
Harmon led a 1-2-3 performance by the Cajuns in the women's high jump after clearing the bar at 5-6.50. Madalyn Trisler (5-6.50) and Alex Harrell (5-4.50) finished behind Harmon in the event. Mitchell claimed her second individual title in the long jump this season after posting a mark of 19-6 – one-quarter inch off her season-best.
Keygan Keys (48.73) and Kayla Thompson (59.35) each recorded second-place performances in the men's and women's 400-meter dash, respectively, while Devin Davis (24-6.25) finished second overall in the men's long jump. The women's 4x400-meter relay team clocked a season-best time of 3:55.69 to earn a second-place finish.
MCNEESE STATE SPRING TIME CLASSIC
Ashley Irwin and freshman Claire Hodges each crossed the line with first-place performances to pace the Ragin' Cajuns at the McNeese State Spring Time Classic in Lake Charles.
Irwin, competing in the women's 5,000-meter run, led a 1-2 finish for the Cajuns after clocking a time of 18:23.10 with teammate Courtney Musgrove finishing in second at 18:43.40.
Hodges, making her debut in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, captured the individual title in 11:34.50 and finishing 11 seconds ahead of Lamar's Megan Flanagan, who posted the top-seeded time entering the event.
In the men's 5,000-meter run, Corbett Ourso (15:53.40) finished third overall with freshman Logan Pearce (15:58.30) finishing fourth and Trey Bonin (16:17.30) seventh.
