Teurlings Catholic's Addison Richey went into yesterday's McNeese Indoor No. 2 Meet as one of Louisiana's really good pole vaulters. After jumping 13-3--a season best by over a foot--she moved from good to great, and into the conversation among the best to ever do it.
She might not be in a class all by herself-- just yet, but it certainly doesn't take long to call the roll. Richey moved from No. 19 on the La. all-time list to No. 6.
Nationally, Richey moved from being ranked No. 33 to the No. 4 jumper in the nation.
Her performance was just one of several storylines to come out of Week No. 4 of the Louisiana high school indoor season.
Parkway's Brennan Robin Shatters 3200m Record!
It didn't matter to Parkway freshman Brennan Robin that he was running in a race at the McNeese Indoor No. 2 with the meet record holder 3200m. The youngster took to the lead early and never looked back--except to take a peek a couple of times on the last lap.
When he did look back he saw the sizable gap that he had put between himself and the rest of the field-especially in the back half of the race. Robin's time of 9:42.26 bettered the one-year-old meet record-set by Catholic's David Lemann--by more than 10 seconds.
Scotlandville's Corinthian Walker Becomes First La. Half Miler To Break 2:00!
Sometimes the answer is 'None of the Above.'
On December 13th of last year, MileSplit LA ran a rankings story about the boys 800m. In that story, we had five guys who--we thought--would be one of the first half milers to break 2:00 in the 800m.
Scotlandville's Corinthian Walker was not on that list.
Mr. Walker, please accept our apology for the omission last month and congratulations to you and your LA#1 time of 1:59.54 at the McNeese Indoor No. 2!
His runner-up finish in the event is the highest indoor finish of his career.
Makeriah Harris, A'Shyria Burns Highlight Girls Sprints!
Scotlandville's Makeriah Harris just made it look so easy on her way to wins in both the 55m hurdles (8.36) and 55m (8.36). Comparing those times to a year ago shows she is right on schedule to finish her high school indoor career with a strong showing at the New Balance Indoor Nationals where she finished fourth last year with a time of 8.37 in the 60m hurdles.
Menard junior A'Shyria Burns was right on her tail in both events finishing second in the 55m (7.27) and third in the 55m hurdles (8.63).
Before getting on the track, Burns did some work in the field events where she won the long jump with a season-best jump of 18-9. She also finished third in the triple jump (36-4).
Brazzel Leads Bears At McNeese!
Senior Cameron Brazell led a strong effort by the Catholic Bears. Brazell won the 400m with a time of 50.12. It's the first indoor win of Brazell's career.
It wasn't the first win for Catholic's Matthew Maynard, who won the 1600m with a time of 4:27.45.
It's the second consecutive meet Maynard has won and individual event. He took first place in the 800m at the LSU High School Qualifier (2:02.37).
Catholic head coach Sean Brady credited sophomore shot putter Jack Torrence, who had a big PR--two feet better than his previous personal best--with a throw of 47-1 which "set the tone" for the Bears.
Other highlights for the Bears included placing two hurdlers in the finals-- seniors Porter Tanner (3rd; 8:23) and Peter Kronenberger (4th; 8.31), and junior Alex Huffine's (21-10.50) third place finish in the boys long jump.
C.E. Byrd's Spencer Frierson Picks Up First Indoor Win In 3200m!
C.E. Byrd's Jenna Key was the No. 1 seed in the 3200m, but when she got sick during the race and had to drop out, her teammate Spencer Frierson picked up the slack and the win--the first indoor win of her career. Frierson's time was 11: 54.42.
It wasn't easy, Frierson had to give everything she had at the finish to hold off David Thibodeaux's Grace French, who finished second with a time of 11:54.65.
Frierson's win currently ranks her No. 11 in Louisiana.
Frierson's win was not the only bright spot for the C.E. Byrd distance group. The girls' 4x800m set a school record in the first event of the day with a time of 10:28.32. Members of the team included Mallory Swint, Hudson Roberts, Laila Wells, and Anna Lake Watts.
Double Gold for East Ascension's Herman Batiste!
To say that Herman Batiste had a day at the McNeese Indoor No. 2 would be an understatement. Batiste won both the high jump (6-9) and the long jump (23-0). In the high jump, it was the second straight week he cleared 6-9.
Central Lafourche's Kaden Adams Keeps Going in the Shot Put!
It's almost scary how much Central Lafourche's Kaden Adams , Louisiana's best shot putter, keeps improving in his specialty. His throw of 54-4 on Saturday was over two feet better than his season-best of 51-8 at the LSU High School Qualifier.