Dec 29, 2022

No.14

Holy Cross' Krosse Johnson fastest in the state. Look for Holy Cross' Krosse Johnson on the state rankings in the 100m and you will have to go all the way down to No. 8. In realitiy, Johnson proved he was the fastest in the state by running a 10.54w winning the LHSAA Class 5A state championship in the event. Captain Shreve's Marquez Stevenson was second with a 10.59.

So, why are so many sprinters ranked above Johnson? There are a couple of meets where fast times were reported--The White Castle meet and Vandebilt Catholic Terrier Relays. It seems unlikely that these results were the result of a windy day, but rather a flaw with either the distance or timing.

In regards to Johnson, it isn't his 100m that fans at Bernie Moore Stadium will likely remember about that day.

It's what he did with a baton in his hand in on the anchor leg of the 400m relay. It's a memory that the Ruston sprint relay team would like to forget as Johnson came from behind to rip a victory from the jaws of defeat.

No.13

Huntington's Harris the last to know. Speaking of running away from the competition at the LHSAA Class 4A State Outdoor Meet...Huntington's Demetria Harris dominated the field in the Class 4A girls 100m hurdles. Her 14.49 was almost a full second ahead of the second place finisher. She jogged back to the starting line and prepared for the 100m. While it was a tighter race, Harris still prevailed with a 12.11.
It was an impressive sight to see, and impressive enough for the working media to selct Harris at the LHSAA Class 4A Meet MVP.

What the fans at Bernie Moore Stadium didn't see is Harris accepting award as she had left the stadium with her team and head back to the hotel.

No.12

Byrd' Trent Wells chases "the sharks" to take LHSAA 3200m title. Jesuit coach Cullen Doody had a plan for his two Blue Jays in the LHSAA Class 5A state outdoor 3200m. "Drag them down into the deep water." You don't have to be a Shark Week fan to know that Doody viewed his guys as the apex preadators in the race.

The defending 5A champion Jack DesRoches and his teammate, Lucas Sampedro, liked the plan.

Both were a little surprised to find Byrd's Trent Wells hanging around late in the race. Suprisingly, Wells had a enough in the tank after running in the 1600m during the heat of the day earlier in the meet.

Incredibly, it was a 23.5 second PR for Wells and his first state championship in his last high school meet in Louisiana.

No.11

Episcopal's Claney Duplechin enters the La. Sports Hall of Fame. While Claney Duplechin may not be in a class all by himself, it doesn't take long to call the roll. His name was one the roll when the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inducted their Class of 2022 in Natchitoches this summer. Duplechin joins a short list of legendary track and field coaches in the hall of fame--including his mentor, Catholic's Pete Boudreaux.

Most of the time, inductees into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame are those who are retired. Not Duplechin. He was in Natchitoches again in Novemeber at the LHSAA State Cross Country Championships leading his Epsicopal girls to yet another state championship.

VIDEO of Episcopal's Claney Duplechin's induction into the La. Sports Hall of Fame!