LHSAA STATE MEET: Day Two Notes; Episcopal Sweeps

May 10, 2025

[EDITOR'S NOTE: In a previous edition of this article, it stated that Dylan Kolenovsky was the Outstanding Performer in the girls' division. That was incorrect. Kolenovsky was the Outstanding Performer in the Class 2A boys' division. I apologize for the error.]

Knight time was the right time Friday on day two of the LHSAA State Outdoor Track & Field Championships which saw action from both Class 2A and 3A. Epsicopal swept team awards in both the boys and girls divisions.

Episcopal's boys team scored 60 points and edged out the Ouachita Christian, who moved up after winning four consecutive state championships in Class 1A, by eight points. On the girls' side, the Knights, who were led by sophomore distance sensations Neva Lambert and Ada Mere , scored 71 points--15 more than runner-up Mansfield, who had their best finish in school history.

"We talked about it on Wednesday, we said no matter what the weather is, we are not going to let it bug us," Episcopal boys head coach and Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame coach Claney Duplechin said. "We went in there with the attitude that everybody else will have to deal with the same thing, same weather, we are not going to complain. Actually, we are going to embrace it."

It was state championship No. 144 for Duplechin. Coming in, Duplechin knew that Episcopal had a puncher's chance. He felt like have the right frame of mind going in gave the Knights a bit of a head start.

"I thought we had a small shot," Duplechin said. "I did not think we were going to jump on it so quickly. We had some stuff that happened early that really turned it and started getting us to where we needed to be. Of course, there was some good and bad. Some of the other teams had some things that didn't go well. It was probably five or six teams which were going to battle all the way down, and it was still pretty close."

MacKenzie Hayes from Northlake Christian won the Outstanding Performer of the LHSAA Class 2A Girls State Outdoor Championships. Newman's Dylan Kolenovsky was the Outstanding Performer in the boys' division. In 3A, Parkview Baptist's Lucy Cramer and Aiden Monistere took home Outstanding Performer trophies.

NEWMAN'S DYLAN KOLENOVSKY ON MVP PERFORMANCE IN CLASS 2A BOYS

Add Monistere and Cramer to the list of track and field athletes who are leaving Bernie Moore Stadium with four gold medals. Both pulled off the distance triple and ran a leg on their team's winning 4x800m relays.

For both Monistere and Cramer there was a bit of drama in the finish of their 800m. Monistere (1:56.61) had to come from behind in the last 10 meters to beat Albany's LA Antoine Taylor (1:56.83).

"I like to make it close," Monistere with a laugh. "It's a bad problem of mine. I knew he was going to be great competition. I knew it was going to be us three on the podium. I just didn't know which way it was going to go."

There was a trail of tears from the finish line of the 3200m to the podium when Monistere and his teammate Reed Boudreaux made their way over for the presentation of medals. Monistere talked about the emotions which were on display for both he and Boudreaux.

"It's finally over," Monistere said. "It's been fun. I wish it had been longer, but all good things come to an end. I'm going off to college next year, and I will miss home. It means a lot. I ran with my teammate and we finished it out together."

Cramer's competition came from her own teammate. Cramer won with a time of 2:17.27. Georgia Theriot (2:17.72) was the runner-up

Episcopal (8:20.97) wins back-and-forth battle against Newman in the last leg of the LHSAA Class 2A boys 4x800m.

Parkview Baptist 4x800 girls, who proved that they were one of the best teams ever assembled during the 2025 indoor season, dominated the 4x800m setting a Class 3A state meet record with a time of 9:37.21.

The Eagles made it a sweep as anchor Aiden Monistere reminded the crowd that PBS has won the last four 4x800m title.

Notre Dame's Mary Ellen Trahan wins 100m in 2A with a time of 14.78. Mackenzie Hayes (15.13) from Northlake Christian was the runner-up. Trahan (44.81)returned later in the meet to the win the 300m hurdles.

Madison Prep's Makayla Miller (14.88) cruised to a victory in the Class 3A girls 100m. Donaldsonville's Jekira Washington-John (15.56) was the runner-up.

Mansfield's Jaden Youngblood (14.36) began his final LHSAA State Outdoor Championship with a win in the 110m hurdles in Class 2A. Episcopal's Wynn Turner (14.80) was the runner-up.

Erath's Sean Herrington (14.87) pulled away after the start for the win in the Class 3A boys 110m hurdles. De La Salle's Garen Lewis (15.32) was the runner-up.

Senior Amaya Shine (12.20) from Rosepine edged out North Caddo sophomore Nasiyah Collins (12.20) in the Class 2A girls 100m. Diamond Bossier from Lafayette Renaissance (12.32) was third.

Mamou Kyrionna Ardoin left no doubt in the 3A girls 100m, winning with a time of 12.10. Lake Charles College Prep's Akia Jackson (12.32) was the runner-up.

Senior Keidron Thomas (10.79) from Delhi Charter held off a bunch of horses in the Class 2A boys 100m. Sophomore Detavious Williams (10.84) from Winnfield was the runner-up.

Xaeliin Gladney from North Webster claimed the gold medal in the Class 3A boys 100m. His 10.78 edged out runner up Port Allen's Brennan Gibson (10.85).

A strong second leg propelled Lafayette Renaissance (1:43.42) to the lead in the girls Class 2A 4x200m. The anchor was able to hold off the competition which included runner-up Rosepine (1:45).

The St. Louis High girls 4x200 has been strong all year. Friday was no different as the Crusaders dominated the field and set a 3A Class record with a time of 1:39.75. They broke the record set by Brusly (1:40.86) in 2017. Madison Prep was the runner-up with a 1:42.69.

Winnfield went 1:29.61 to claim the title in the Class 2A boys 4x200m. Lafayette Renaissance was the runner-up with a time of 1:30.72.

Lake Charles College Prep won the Class 3A boys 4x200m 1:28.39. De La Salle (1:28.58) was the runner-up.