WESTGATE'S DEDRICK LATULAS WIN THE CLASS 4A OUTDOOR LONG JUMP...INDOORS!
We are a month away from our end of the year polls. There is only one more slot on each ballot reserved for the ballot winners in the month of May. As we are drawing close, we thought we would give our MileSplit LA audience an early peek at what the ballot for Athlete of the Year and Relay Team of the Year will look like..
MILESPLIT LA GIRLS' ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Louise S. MeGhee's Kali Magana - Won the 100m (12.15), 200m (24.59), and 800m (2:20.53), but was proudest of the gold medail in the 4x200m (1:42.93) in the LHSAA Class 1A State Outdoor Meet.
Mandeville's Reese Johnson - Was MileSplit's Athlete of the Month in February after getting faster each time she stepped on the track. She carried that momentum over the into the outdoor season, where she finished third in both the 100m (12.06) and 200m (24.87).
Neville's Lennon Sirmon - A freshman Lady Tiger from Neville Tiger was MileSplit LA's Athlete of the Month for March. She qualified for the LHSAA Class 4A State Outdoor Meet in the high jump where she finished sixth in the high jump with a clearance of 4-9.75. Her season best of 5-0 has her ranked No. 9 in the state among all freshmen. Keep an eye on her in the hurdles, where she finished fourth in the Region 1-4A 100m hurdles--just missing out on qualifying for the state meet.
Destrehan's Marley Richard - It's hard to do better than perfect, but that exactly what Richard was during the regular season in the 100m, 200m, long jump, and triple jump. The sophomore, who led the Lady Wildcats to a District championship as a freshman, learned some lessons at the state meet and will be back for her junior campaign stronger than ever. She did come away with her first state outdoor title--winning the long jump with a leap of 18-1.75.
MILESPLIT LA BOYS' ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Captain Shreve's Marquez Stevenson - "Mach"--as he is affectionately known to family and friends, went out on top at the District 1-5A Meet with a 48.36 and a district championship. Later in the meet, he was not able to run up to his standards in the 200m. He chose to sit out of the Region 1-5A Meet to begin concentrating on his football (and track) career at Texas Tech University. He finishes as being the best to ever run the 400m in Northwest Louisiana.
Westgate's Dedrick Latulas - Latulas got the party started for the Tigers at the LHSAA Class 4A Outdoor Meet, but it started indoors with Latulas winning both the long jump (22-6) and triple jump (45-4).
Central Lafourche's Samuel Hodson - Finished just off the podium in the LHSAA Class 5A State Outdoor Meet in the 400m. His personal record 48.49 was good enough for fourth place. Not making the podium only added fuel to Hodson's fire. Look for big things from this young man in 2024.
Catholic's Paul Catalanatto - Not all field events went inside the on Saturday. After finishing as the runner-up to Jesuit's Jack Lavierre last year, Catalanatto picked up his first state title last Saturday with a throw of 201-9.25. The throw ranks No. 1 in Louisiana and No. 8 in the nation.
MILESPLIT LA GIRLS' RELAY TEAM OF THE YEAR
Lafayette's 4x400 - Finished second at the LHSAA Class 5A State Outdoor Meet with a time of 3:58.22
St. Louis High's 4x400 - Amazingly, broke Scotlandville's Class 3A record by FIVE SECONDS with a time of 3:55
Northside's 4x400 - Won the LHSAA Class 4A State Outdoor Championship with a time of 4:00.28.
Benton 4x400 - Finished the year with a seventh place finish and a school record of 4:15.06 at the Region 1-5A Meet.
MILESPLIT LA BOYS' RELAY TEAM OF THE YEAR
Southside 4x800 - The team did not run during the championship season.
Holy Cross 4x200 - Finished second at the LHSAA Class 5A State Outdoor Meet with a time of 1:25.99
Destrehan 4x100 - Had some problems during the championship season when one of their fastest Wildcats--sophomore Phillip Wright had to deal with nagging muscle strains--this team finishes No. 6 in the state with a best time of 41.60.
Northside 4x400 - Finished second in the LHSAA Class 4A State Outdoor Meet with a time of 3:25.52.