Stokes Heads 11 Event Winners in Outdoor Opener

LAFAYETTE, La. - A personal-best performance by sophomore Samia Stokes in the discus throw highlighted 11 event winners for the LSU track and field teams in their outdoor season opener Saturday at the Louisiana Classics meet held at the Ragin' Cajuns Track Stadium.

Stokes uncorked a throw of 166 feet, 1 inch in the event to eclipse her previous personal record of 163-10 set during her freshman season at Mesa Community College a year ago.

With her performance, Stokes also ranks among the program's all-time leaders in the discus as she is now the fifth-ranked Lady Tiger on the school's all-time performance list in the event.

To put Stokes' performance in perspective, her mark of 166-1 set during Saturday's discus competition at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette would have not only qualified for the final at the NCAA Outdoor Championships a year ago, but it would have also earned her All-America honors with a sixth place finish in the NCAA final held at John McDonnell Field at the University of Arkansas.

As one of the nation's top-ranked discus throwers in the early part of the outdoor season, Stokes is firmly in position to be one of the top 48 performers in the event to earn an invitation to compete in the preliminary rounds of the 2010 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships to be held at the East site at Irwin Belk Track in Greensboro, N.C., from May 27-29.

The NCAA has eliminated the regional format used for qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships since the 2003 season in favor of a new format to determine this year's national champions.

The top 48 performers in each individual event and the top 24 relay teams that declare for the post season in both the East and West regions will compete in the NCAA preliminary rounds. Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro will serve as the East site, while Mike A Myers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin will serve as the West site.

In all, 96 individuals and 48 relay teams nationwide will compete in the preliminary rounds of the NCAA Outdoor Championships scheduled to run from May 27-29.

Hayward Field at the University of Oregon in Eugene will play host to the final round of the 2010 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships from June 9-12.

"We had some really outstanding performances today in our first outdoor meet of the season. This was an important weekend for us as we make that transition from the indoor season to the outdoor season," said LSU head coach Dennis Shaver. "It's going to be interesting this year since our athletes won't be shooting for a certain qualifying standard like we've done in years past. They'll have to lock up one of those top 48 spots to make it to the postseason. That's why we must continue to improve each week."

Stokes led a group of six event winners for the Lady Tigers on Saturday. Senior Kristina Davis took home the 200-meter crown with a time of 24.51 seconds, while junior Brittany Hall captured the 400-meter title with a time of 55.17. Hall also led off the LSU's 4x400-meter relay team that placed first in 3:44.69.

Other Lady Tigers to bring home event crowns on Saturday afternoon include senior Katelyn Rodrigue in the pole vault (11-11 ¾) and sophomore Jenna Henssler in the 3,000 meters (10:19.89).

Junior Gabriel Mvumvure led a group of five Tigers to take first place in their respective events by taking top honors in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.35. Sophomore Ade Alleyne-Forte won the 400 meters in 47.39 and sophomore Richard Chautin won the 3,000 meters in 8:29.08, while senior Josh Dominguezcleared 16-11 to win the pole vault and junior Ross Roubion threw 192-4 to win the hammer throw.

The Tigers and Lady Tigers return home next weekend to play host to the LSU Tiger Relays scheduled to run Friday and Saturday at the Bernie Moore Track Stadium.