LAKE CHARLES – School records broken by Nicole Casper in the women's pole vault and Thomas Canchola in the men's weight throw were the top highlights for McNeese State in the indoor track season opener at the McNeese Recreation Complex on Friday.
Casper, a true freshman from Buna, Texas and Buna High School, cleared 11-11.75 on the second attempt of her third height and breaking an eight-year-old record of 11-7.75 set by Mary Katherine Shaw in 2006.
Canchola, a senior from Refugio, Texas, threw a 58-08.75 on his first attempt to break the record of 75-5.50 set in 2010 by Jared Crafton. He also had a third place finish in the shot put with a mark of 49-01.50.
For the meet, the Cowboy and Cowgirls combined for 10 first place finishes and another 14 second and third place finishes.
On the women's side, La'Shantena Rounds, last year's Southland Conference champion in the weight throw, placed first with a mark of 58-02 and was second in the shot put with a 44-00 throw.
Jasmine Cornelius also had a first and a second place finish in the meet. She won the high jump event with a clearing of 5-01.75 and finished second in the long jump at 19-02.75.
In the running events, Jasmine George placed first in the 55 meter hurdles with a time of 8.17 while Ashleigh Wells finished second in the 400 meters with a 1:00.72. A second place finish by Jasmine Webb (26.38) was followed closely by Paige Lynch with a 26.50 for third place in the 200 meters.
In addition to Canchola's first place finish in the weight throw, the Cowboys had four other individual champions.
Cherby Laguerre led McNeese in the 400 meter dash with a first place time of 51.34. Cody Skarupa ran a 1:22.77 to win the 600 meters and Martin Delguste was clocked at 8:32.71 to win the 3000 meters. In the 55 meter hurdles, Anthony Hatwood took first with a 7.60 while teammate Tristan Joynes placed second with a 7.75 time.