In what used to be a much more common occurrence, post season track and field meets still offer Louisiana an opportunity to compete at a regional or national level after the lights turn off at Bernie More in early May. These meets have been the spark that have ignited some of LA's top national level talent in terms of garnering respect in within the elite track circuit.
One of these meets stands out unique amongst the rest, the Great Southwest Classic. This event is based on state bragging rights with athletes not competing for their schools or for themselves. They don a singlet with their home state across the chest, hoping to showcase their talent and return home with a gold medal. Louisiana has only been travelling to Albuquerque for a little over a decade but in that time they have left their mark.
The Louisiana singlet for GSWTFC a couple years ago.
Pieces of LA history have been left in the desert. Two years ago in 2014, a girls relay of Mikiah Brisco, Janie O'Conner, Shannon Ray, and Aleia Hobbs found their way out to the desert city which sits a mile above New Orleans in elevation in order to chase down some special marks, and that they did. The girls ran for Team Louisiana in the 4x100 meter relay, running a remarkable 44.60 which placed them 4th in the world overall for junior (19 years and younger) competition. Their time would have placed them as one of the top college teams in the country. Later in the meet they would run 1:35.33 in the 4x200, under the meet record but unfortunately for second place. The boys team would snag two relay titles in the 4x1 and 4x2 at that meet as well, running an amazing 40.77 and 1:24.57.
Team Louisiana will again be at the GSW meet this year, looking to produce champions and leave their mark on the track and field world.