LAKE CHARLES – Southeastern Louisiana racked up seven event titles at the McNeese Cowboy Relays, the opening meet for the outdoor track and field season. Five of those came as part of the men's second place effort, while the women's team garnered a pair of individual victories en route to a fifth place finish.
Host McNeese State won the men's team title, while Northwestern State captured the women's championship. McNeese kept the Bob Hayes Louisiana Challenge Cup, awarded to the school with the best combined score. Other schools at the meet included Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana-Lafayette and Wiley College.
“We stacked up well among the schools that were here,” head coach Sean Brady said. “We're in the outdoor season and we've got a starting point now. We've got times, distances and heights on paper, and we've got a place to begin.”
Lacey Sanchez set a personal best in women's pole vault at 12 feet even (3.66 meters) to win the event. The clearance was well above the Southeastern Track and Field Hall of Fame standard, which she previously reached in last season's LSU Relays with an effort of 11 feet, 7.75 inches (3.55 meters).
The women's triple jump title went to Michelle Ogashi, thanks to a mark of 38 feet, 1.5 inches (11.62 meters).
On the men's side, Adlus Wiltz blew the field away in the 400 meter hurdles, coming in with a time of 52.79, over three seconds ahead of the second place finisher.
Jerel Butler captured a victory in the men's 400 meter dash (48.74), edging former Southeastern teammate George Cunningham (48.82), who ran for the Elite Performance club.
Kovey Simmons won the men's pole vault competition, clearing 14 feet (4.27 meters).
Plus, Michael Rheams was the best in men's triple jump, putting up a mark of 47 feet, 4.25 inches (14.43 meters).
The men's 4x400 meter relay team capped the day with a victory, running the race in 3:15.37.
“We got a tremendous amount of work done this week,” Brady said. “We finished it off with some more work, but in a competition setting. Although we were a little fatigued, some of our kids stepped up and did well.”
Southeastern returns to action at Louisiana Tech's Jim Mize Invitational in Ruston on Saturday, March 20.
