CATHOLIC'S JACK TORRANCE WATCHES THE SHOT PUT ACTION INSIDE THE CARL MADDOX FIELDHOUSE
RESULTS: 2026 LHSAA State Outdoor Track & Field Championships
RACE VIDEO: 2026 LHSAA State Outdoor Track & Field Championships
54 INTERVIEWS: 2026 LHSAA State Outdoor Track & Field Championships
It was fitting that on Mother's Day weekend that Mother Nature would have some say so on how the final two days of the LHSAA State Outdoor Championships were run. On both days, the LHSAA and the LSU Track & Field Officials's Association and LSU Track & Field Facilities personnel worked closely together to get the state meet in.
The move indoors did not bother Catholic senior Jack Torrance, who won the Class 5A shot put with a throw of 58-0.25. It was a bit of an upset as Torrance beat Alexandria sophomore Carter Rivet, who came in as the favorite.
"I'm really proud of myself adjusting to the aversity and coming out on top of the last throw," Torrance said. "That's what we learn at Catholic High. No matter what happens, the show goes on. We're good. We're ready to compete."
Other individual winners for Catholic included John Overton (14-11) in the pole vault, William Decuir (1:52.26) in the 800 meters.
Podium finishers included Augustin Juneau (3rd; 9:14.17) in the 3200 meters, Henry Mensman (3rd; 48.19) in the 400 meters, and Torrance in the discs (1:59.10).
Coach Sean Brady's relay squads finished on the body in every relay. It started with a win in the 4x800 where Decuir on the anchor leg conserved energy during the last 200 meters. The Bears won with a time of 7:55.19, a little over two seconds away from Catholic's state meet composite record of 7:52.36 in 2022. Other runners on the relay team included Peter Watson, Patrick Kelly, and Juneau.
Catholic's 4x200 relay (Joshua Dowdell,Joshua Dowdell, Harrison Lalande, Mensman, and C. Rice) kept it going by running a 1:26.23 and picking up yet another relay victory.
The 4x100 relay (41.60) and 4x400 relay (3:17.26) both finished as the runner up. Brother Martin won the 4x100 with a 41.32 and C.E. Byrd (3:17. 25) won the 4x400.
Torrance was asked what he will miss about the Catholic program as he gets ready to head to the University of South Alabama.
"I'm sure it's the same at South Alabama, but it's just a brotherhood on the track team," Torrance said about what he will miss the most about being a Catholic Bear. "We all love each other. We all support each other. There is no beef between any two people. We are all aligned to the same goal which is to hold up the big trophy."
Torrance credited the Catholic High coach staff for the gold medal hanging around his neck.
"We have the best coaching staff in the state of Louisiana," Torrance said. "No doubt. I love our coaches so much. They all mean so much to me. They've put so much effort into me. Even guys that you wouldn't think, like Coach Zach (Capello). He was in there cheering me on. Coach Mistretta--the sprints coach was in there cheering me on. Coach Brady, obviously and all the amazing throws coaches we have. I love them all so much. I'm really thankful for what they've done for me these past four years. I wouldn't be wearing this medal if it weren't for them"
TORRANCE CARRYING ON A FAMILY TRADITION
Jack Torrance is the great grandson of legendary LSU shot putter by the same name.
Known across the country as "Baby Jack," the LSU standout became one of the most dominant shot putters of the 1930s while also starring in football and basketball for the Tigers. At 6-foot-5 and more than 260 pounds, Torrance was among the most recognizable athletes of his era and one of the foundational figures in LSU athletics history.
Torrance arrived at LSU from Oak Grove High School and quickly developed into a national force under legendary coach Bernie Moore. He helped lead LSU's famed five-man track team to the 1933 NCAA championship, the first national title in school history. Torrance captured the NCAA shot put title that season with a world-record throw of 52 feet, 10 inches and also scored valuable points in the discus.
He repeated as NCAA champion in 1934 and spent the next several years rewriting the record books. During the 1934 season, Torrance broke the world record multiple times, culminating with a throw of 57 feet, 1 inch in Oslo, Norway. The mark stood for 14 years.
There are a ton of stories that Torrance has heard over the years about his great grandfather, but his favorite--coincidentally--had to do with throwing the shot in inclemate weather.
"It's easy to pick, the big throw in Oslo," Torrance said. "He set the world record for the first time. It landed outside the pit. Nobody had ever thrown that far before. It was raining that day--just like today, actually. They had to dig it out of the ground with shovels. If we had stayed outside, we would have had to do the same thing."
