LAFAYETTE – McNeese State's Ben Chretien uncranked one of the best javelin throwers in school history here Saturday, getting off a toss of 234-11 as he placed second in the event at the Louisiana Classics track and field meet.
The throw was a personal best for him and only three feet shy of the school record of 237-4 set by Chris Hill in 2007. The winning throw was 241-8 by Martins Piladavs of Troy.
Chretien's second place effort was one of eight top five performances by Cowboys and Cowgirls during the meet.
The women's 4x100 meter relay team of Mariah Georgetown, Ashleigh Wells, Paige Lynch and Simone Johnson finished second with a clocking of 46.15, just shy of the school record.
Wells also finished second in the 200 meter dash with a clocking of 24.71 and she was seventh in the 400 meters at 57.89.
Other Cowboys producing third place efforts were Brock Moreau with a 9:51.47 time in the men's steeplechase and Lewi Manirumva with a 15:30.83 in the 5000 meters.
Leslie Smith finished third in the women's discus at 160-3 and third in the shot put at 45-8.5.
Also for the Cowboys, Stephen Eccles was 10th in the javelin at 193-11 and Curley Chance was 17th at 182-8, Lance Ardoin went 15-9 for sixth place in the pole vault, Andrew Kogut was fourth in the steeplechase at 10:06.83 and Torian Lindsay was seventh in the 400 meters at 48.69 and eighth in the 200 at 22.04.
For the Cowgirls, Courtnei Carter ran fourth in the long jump at 18-8, Carley Richardson was 15th in the javelin at 122-11 and Maraiah Young was 16th at 122-2, Alyssa Cotten was fourth in the pole vault at 11-3.75, Melanie Jackson was ninth in the shot put at 41-7, Jacqueline Berry was seventh in the triple jump at 37-10.5, Desarae Couthren was eighth in the 400 meters at 57.21, Georgetown was 10th in the 100 meters at 12.18, Racheal Easton was sixth in the 400 hurdles at 1:04.96 and Jasmine George was seventh at 1:05.61 and Lynch was 10th in the 200 meters at 25.29.