Jones Finishes with NCAA Regional Qualifying Mark; Tech Track Competes Well at Snowbird Invitational

March 22, 2008

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Freshman Larry Jones finished with an NCAA Regional Qualifying Mark to lead Louisiana Tech to a great weekend at the Snowbird Invitational on the campus of Florida State University.

The freshman out of Ruston threw a commanding mark of 175 feet, 3 inches in the discus for the qualifier and a first place finish.

"I was real pleased with how our kids ran this weekend," Tech head coach Gary Stanley said. "We competed really well at this prestigious meet. It was a good way to open our season."

Tech had two other first place finishes besides Jones' throw. Senior Cory Denstel run a 1 minute, 51 second mark in the men's 800, while junior Kinsey Dinnel won the 3000 meter steeplechase with a time of nine minutes flat.

Freshman Marcelles Atkinson took second in the men's 400-meter hurdles at 53.69, while senior Nadia Alexander threw a 152-01 in the women's discus for a second place finish.

The men's sprint medley team of Josh Harvey, Jarrith Jones, Al Fullwood and Demonte Willis finished second at 3:27.51, while the women's 4x400 relay team of Monique Wright, Rakeisha Green, El Charrita Reynolds and Kamelia Stroy tacked on a second place finish at 3:44.77.

Sophomore Justin Martin took third in the men's javelin with a 183-01 mark, while freshman Jonathan Keys finished third in the men's triple jump at 48-00.50.

Tech will return to action next weekend at the Bulldog Invitational in Starkville, Miss.