RUSTON, La. - Louisiana Tech senior Chelsea Hayes set a school and Jim Mize Track Facility record with a long jump of 20-11.25 at the Jim Mize Invitational Saturday afternoon. That mark currently ranks second in the nation and fourth in the world.
Hayes jumped a personal record as she currently ranks second in the country and only half an inch shy of the national leader. Her mark of 20-11.25 (6.38m) also ranks fourth in the world this year short year behind Sonnisha Williams (United States/UCF). Hayes, a New Orleans native, is nine inches shy of the world leading mark of 21-8.25 (6.61m) set by Cuba's Suslaidys Girat in Havana, Cuba on Feb. 17. She shattered the previous facility record of 20-5 set by Boise State's Elaine Kafaou last year at the WAC Championships.
In all, it was another dominating day for Louisiana Tech as the men's and women's teams combined for 16 gold medals on the day, double what Grambling claimed (eight) and more than Southeastern Louisiana's seven.
Ruston native Trey Hadnot led the men's team with a gold medal in the 400m dash, running 47.54 to win by almost half a second. Hadnot also ran the anchor leg of the men's 4x100m relay that won with a time of 40.21.
Larry Jones topped his own personal shot put record set a week ago as he threw 58-7.25 to claim first place. Jones also finished second in the discus with a mark of 185-10 behind former Tech thrower Jason Morgan (198-7) who is now competing for Jamaica.
Tech finished 1-2-4-5 in the 1,500m run as Alwayne Green led with a winning time of 3:59.34. Jeff Boudreaux finished second with a time of 3:59.57 while David Monroe (4:07.85) and Josh Slocum (4:10.47) rounded out the top five. Billy Ray Walker ran 14.11 in the 110m hurdles to claim a gold medal beating the next best hurdler by 0.5 seconds.
Freshman Kim Francis won the 200m dash with a time of 24.34 while senior Monique Wright won the 400m dash with a time of 55.16. Tiana Davis ran 13.62 in the 100m hurdles to win while Jesseka Jonesfinished second with a time of 13.89. Tech's Shante Benion won the 400m hurdles for the Lady Techster sweep in the hurdles, running 1:01.35.
Louisiana Tech returns to action on April 7-9 when Tech heads to the prestigious Texas Relays in Austin, Texas.
For complete coverage of Tech Track and Field, please visit the official home of Louisiana Tech Athletics at LATechSports.com.