McNeese athletes break two records during Cowboy Relays

 Four records were  broken and Northwestern State claimed the third annual Bob Hayes Challenge trophy during the running the McNeese State Cowboy relays on Saturday.

            Cowgirl hurdler Mariah Georgetown and distance runner Katarina Caraway accounted for two of the four records and Northwestern took the challenge  title with a combined 298 points (men and women combined scoring).

            Georgetown, a freshman, won the women's high hurdles in 13.78, a meet and facility record, and she also ran the anchor leg on the Cowgirls winning 4x100 meter relay team. Caraway won the women's steeplechase in 12:033.33, a meet record.

            McNeese was second in the challenge scoring with 283.5 points and was followed by Southeastern Louisiana with 214.5, ULL 150, Lamar 116 and Southwestern Christian 76.

            In the men's division only, the Demons totaled 139 points while the Cowboys had 130.5, SE Louisiana 99.5, ULL 69, Lamar 65 and Southwestern Christian 26.

            In the women's division, the Lady Demons scored 159, McNese had 153, Southeastern Louisiana 115, ULL 85, Lamar 51 and Southwestern Christian 50.

            The Cowgirls totaled seven first place efforts.

            Amy Talbot won the 1500 meter run in 4:41.89 whle Fionnula Ross took the 5000 meters in 18:13.28.  Ashlee Smith won the discus throw in 158-6 and Meriah Young won the javelin with a personal best of 142-11.

            Joining Georgetown on the winning 4x100 meter relay team, which carded a 47.57 clocking, were Paige Lynch, Ashleigh Wells and Desarae Couthren.

            David Rooney and Thomas Canchola were the only first place finishers for the Cowboys.

            Rooney won the mile run in 4:11.26 and Canchola took the shot put in 47-6.5.

            Second place efforts in the meet for the Cowboys came from Charles Jackson in the 100 meters (10.56), Darren Keyes in the 200 (22.04), Torian Lindsey in the 400 (49.03), Jarrett LeBlanc in the mile (4:13.51), Lance Ardoin in the pole vault (14-6), Canchola in the hammer (162-11) and from the 4x100 relay team (41.17) of Ryan Thomason, Lindsey, Keyes and Jackson.

            Second places for the Cowgirls were produced by Jasmine Cornelius in the high jump (4-11 ¾) and DeAnn Washington in the shot put (47-8 ¼) and in the discus (142-10).