The Ragin’ Cajuns men’s and women’s track and field squads took in their final meet before a weekend off by participating in the Jeff Davis/McNeese Indoor track meet Friday at the McNeese recreation complex in Lake Charles.
As the indoor season comes to a close – only the LSU Twilight and Sun Belt Championships remain – the Cajuns took the opportunity to rest a few athletes. Louisiana takes a break from action next weekend and returns to competition on Feb. 17 at LSU.
The Cajuns picked up three individual titles in men’s field events while resting the majority of the track athletes. On the women’s side, three Top 5 finishes highlighted the field events and the Cajuns took part in nearly every track event.
“I was pretty satisfied with the results,” head coach Lon Badeaux said. “We took a smaller group to rest some people, but the ones we brought got a little better.
“It was good to see Chris Roy get back on track reclaiming the Sun Belt lead in the pole vault, and all of the throwers had a good day. Overall, it was a successful day.”
Jacob Fontenot claimed the men’s weight throw title with a toss of 16.71m/54-10. Donnie Broussard (15.32m/50-3 ¼) and Tyler Guidry (15.28m/50-1 ¾) joined Fontenot in the Top 5 of the field of 20 competitors.
Albert Fournette grabbed the title in the men’s shot put with a recorded distance of 17.00m/55-9 ¼. It was his second shot put title of the season (won at Blue Raiders Invitational on Jan. 21). Myles Melancon finished runner-up to Fournette with a toss of 16.28m/53-5, his season-best in the event. Guidry picked up another Top 5 finish, placing fourth in the shot put at 15.50m/50-10 ¼.
Chris Roy rebounded from a no height at Arkansas State with a pole vault height of 5.15m/16-10 ¾ which re-established him as the leader in the Sun Belt Conference this season. Reigning SBC Field Athlete of the Week Michael Vani vaulted over 16 feet for the second straight week, vaulting 5.00m/16-4 ¾ Friday evening.
On the women’s side, Essence Torres tossed 12.60m/41-4 ¼ in the shot put, besting her previous effort at McNeese on Jan. 13 (10.45m/34-3 ½).
Ta’Shania Bean collected a pair of Top 5 finishes in the long jump (5.59m/18-4 ¼) and triple jump (11.48m/37-8).
Among the 10 competitors in the women’s 600 meter run, Petrona Layne placed third with a time of 1:39.91 and April Colomb was right behind her in fourth place clocking in at 1:40.31.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin’ Cajuns men’s and women’s track and field teams are off the weekend of Feb. 9-11 and return to action on Friday, Feb. 17 at the LSU Twilight at the Maddox Field House in Baton Rouge. That meet will mark the final competition before the squads take part in the Sun Belt Championships set for Feb. 25-26 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Men’s Performance List
Weight Throw
Jacob Fontenot (1) 16.71m/54-10
Donnie Broussard (4) 15.32m/50-3 ¼
Tyler Guidry (5) 15.28m/50-1 ¾
Albert Fournette (6) 15.12m/49-7 ¼
Myles Melancon (9) 14.36m/47-1 ½
Shot Put
Albert Fournette (1) 17.00m/55-9 ¼
Myles Melancon (2) 16.28m/53-5
Tyler Guidry (4) 15.50m/50-10 ¼
Leo Jones (9) 13.52m/44-4 ¼
Scottie Williams (11) 13.11m/43-0 ¼
Sander Maes (15) 11.61m/38-1 ¼
Wes Gonzales (18) 10.06m/
Pole Vault
Chris Roy (1) 5.15m/16-10 ¾
Michael Vani (2) 5.00m/16-4 ¾
Wes Gonzales (9) 4.10m/13-5 ¼
Long Jump
Micah Thomas (5) 6.72m/22-0 ¾
800 meter run
Willie Allen (10) 2:11.11
Women’s Performance List
Weight Throw
Brittany Blunt (12) 14.83m/48-8
Jana Jones (14) 14.52m/47-7 ¾
Asja Whitmore (22) 11.08m/36-4 ¼
Brandi Franks (23) 11.06m/36-3 ½
Shot Put
Essence Torres (7) 12.60m/41-4 ¼
Brandi Franks (13) 11.27m/36-11 ¾
Precious Lollis (14) 11.13m/36-6 ¼
Jana Jones (16) 10.98m/36-0 ¼
Asja Whitmore (21) 9.88m/32-5
Brittany Blunt (22) 9.61m/31-6 ½
Ashlee McElroy (23) 9.53m/31-3 ¼
Morgan Breaux (27) 7.70m/25-3 ¼
Pole Vault
Amber Laurent (4) 3.20m/10-6
Mary Clements (6) 3.05m/10-0
Long Jump
Ta’Shania Bean (4) 5.59m/18-4 ¼
Morgan Breaux (18) 4.66m/15-3 ½
Triple Jump
Ta’Shania Bean (5) 11.48m/37-8
55 meter dash preliminaries
Anjel Thompson (20) 7.68
200 meter dash
Abi Brown (16) 27.42
400 meter dash
Abi Brown (22) 1:06.24
800 meter run
Krystal Chevis (20) 2:39.77
1 mile run
Katie Kidd (12) 5:35.89
Hlfti Kahssay (22) 5:51.61
Genevieve Roy (25) 6:01.21
3000 meter run
Jolee Bonneval (19) 11:50.48
Michon Meche (20) 12:03.08
55 meter hurdles preliminaries
Anjel Thompson (10) 9.03q
55 meter hurdles finals
Anjel Thompson (11) 9.50
600 meter run
Petrona Layne (3) 1:39.91
April Colomb (4) 1:40.31