DESTREHAN'S MARLEY RICHARD WAS ALL SMILES AS SHE SIGNED WITH THE LSU TIGERS
Hold those Tigers!
A year after the LSU Track & Field Program was able to entice one of the best female track and field athletes in Louisiana history--Scotlandville's Makeriah Harris--to remain on the Bayou, Dennis Shaver and his staff have done it again with three of Louisiana's best--from three different parts of the state--signing with LSU during Wednesday's early signing period.
The Tigers have signed Barbe's Kennedi Burks, Destrehan's Marley Richard, and Calvary's Jackson Burney.
Burks has won the last three state championships in the girls' 400m including a blistering 53.44 at the 2024 LHSAA Class 5A State Outdoor Championships in May. That time ranks No. 1 in the MileSplit LA database in the event.
"It's exciting and I feel like I can breathe now," Burks told KPLC Channel 7 late last month after making her decision. "As fun as it is to see other schools and do other things and meet new people, now that I've found my place, I'm ready for what's next."
While Burks has owned the 400m, Destrehan's Marley Richard has been one of the top jumpers in the state after leading Destrehan to a District title as a freshman.
Richard earned All-American honors after finishing third with a jump of 19-11.75 at the New Balance Outdoor National Championships earlier this year.
Her highlight in the triple jump came at the LHSAA Class 5A State Outdoor Championships where she joined Louisiana's 40 feet club with a winning jump of 40-1. The triple jump state championship was Richard's third in the event.
"I chose LSU because for one Louisiana's culture is second to none," Richard said. "They are National Champions! Who wouldn't want to be a part of that? I loved the atmosphere and their grit. Also, LSU was the most consistent during the recruiting process."
Richard said that she is looking forward to concentrating on the jumps and competing at a high level as she represents her school and her state.
Calvary's Jackson has turned heads from the moment of his first LHSAA State Outdoor Meet as a freshman when he came from behind to win his first state title in the 800m. He hasn't looked back going 5-0 in LHSAA State Meet 800m races.
While his 800m state championship streak is impressive enough, it was his 800m performance at the USATF National Junior Olympics in Eugene, Oregon after his sophomore year which put Burney on the map. He clocked a blistering 1:52.34, which still stands as his personal record.
The University of Louisiana--Lafayette track and field coaching staff has been busy on the recruiting trail, but they haven't had leave Southwest Louisiana to pick up two key recruits.
On the women's side the Ragin Cajun's signed St. Louis Catholic High's Hannah Boullion and Hahnville's Madison Bailey. The men's program picked up David Thibodaux STEM's Jackson Jarrett, who defended his LHSAA D2 State Cross Country Championship title last month in Natchitoches.
Boullion, like Burks, is a 400m specialist, who has had a record-breaking, state championships high school career as well as being a vital part of the Saints state championship dynasty over the last several years.
Bailey finished second to Burks at last the 2024 LHSAA State Outdoor Championships with a personal record of 55.17.
These signings are the ones that MileSplit LA has learned about through social media. If you know of an athlete(s) who signed during the early signing period on Wednesday, please email that information to Jerry Byrd milesplitlaeditor@gmail.com.