INDIANAPOLIS -- LSU freshman LaTavia Thomas staked her claim as the premier young half-miler in the country as she captured the 800-meter title at the 2007 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Friday at the Michael A. Carroll Track Stadium.
Thomas, a Philadelphia native who signed with the Lady Tigers as the top-ranked 800-meter recruit in the country for the Class of 2006, won her second career USA Junior title in the event as she crossed the finish line in 2 minutes, 6.16 seconds in Friday’s final.
With the win, Thomas has earned the right to represent her country at the 2007 Pan American Junior Championships in Fortaleza, Brazil, from July 6-8 as she will be the only 800-meter runner from the United States competing at this year’s top international junior championship meet.
Thomas enjoyed a tremendous freshman season for LSU as she swept SEC indoor and outdoor titles in the 800-meter run. She competed in the half mile at both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships, while also running on the Lady Tigers’ NCAA champion 4x400-meter relay team during the outdoor season.
“LaTavia has proven this season that she is one of the top young half-milers in the country,” said LSU head coach Dennis Shaver. “She won two SEC titles as a freshman, competed at two NCAA meets and has now won the USA Junior title. This is a great accomplishment for her and she will now represent her country at the Pan Am Junior Championships in two weeks.”
In addition, one of the Tigers’ top signees for the Class of 2007 is set to compete for the 400-meter title at the USA Junior Championships as incoming freshman Chris Ward of Kissimmee, Fla., advanced to Saturday’s final with the fourth-fastest preliminary time at 47.19 seconds.
