SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Tigers' 4x100-meter relay team stopped the clock in blistering 38.44 speed to win the national title and the Lady Tigers picked up a second-place finish in the event as the third day of competition came to a close for the LSU track and field team at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
The Tigers' victory, their sixth in program history and the first since the 2003 season, was never in question as sophomore Richard Thompson blasted out of the blocks for a strong lead leg. Thompson then handed the baton to Xavier Carter where he proceeded to blow by the competition, making up the stagger early and continuing to extend the lead down the back straightaway.
“That was a hell of a second leg,” said LSU head coach Dennis Shaver on Carter's run. “But I knew the race was over when Richard Thompson ran a great first leg.”
The handoffs to the final two legs, Marvin Stevenson and Kelly Willie, were seamless as the pair maintained their hefty leads to clinch an undefeated season in the event with a final time that ranked as the sixth fastest in NCAA history and the third fastest in school history.
“I'm most impressed with my teammates,” said Willie on the win. “They always find a way to pull it through. I feel like they are the best three guys I could be running with. They allow me to do what I do comfortably.”
For Willie, the win marked the sixth national title of his career. He now stands tied with former LSU great Walter Davis as the Tigers' all-time leader in career NCAA titles.
The win also gave the Tigers their first 10 points of the meet which ties them with BYU for 13th through 10 events.
The Lady Tigers also found a place on the leader board after scoring eight points for their runner-up finish in the sprint relay.
Sherry Fletcher, Brooklynn Morris, Juanita Broaddus and Kelly Baptiste put up the fastest time by a Lady Tiger team this season, 42.94, but were edged by Texas who took home the victory in 42.84.
“I wanted to win the 4x100, but we didn't,” said Baptiste who anchored the All-America squad. “We still got the points on the board so I am happy about that.”
“I though the girls ran well,” added Shaver. “Juanita ran a great leg and Kelly really started to close at the end, but you have to give it to Texas, they did a great job.”
The impressive performances didn't stop with the relays as LSU turned in an outstanding day of qualifying round competition with seven athletes advancing to tomorrow's finals.
Following legs on the championship relay, both Carter and Willie returned to the track in the 400 and 200 meters, respectively.
Carter broke 45 seconds for the first time this weekend, turning in the fastest qualifying time of the day at 44.96.
Willie also won his preliminary round heat, finishing in 20.46 to move on.
Also moving on for the men was Isa Phillips in the 400-meter hurdles. The junior continued his climb in the LSU record books with his personal best effort of 49.36 seconds. His time, an improvement on his previous best of 49.49, ranks as the third best in school history.
For the women, LSU had two athletes advance to the 200-meter final in sophomores Kelly Baptiste and Brooklynn Morris. Baptiste was just off personal record pace, winning her semifinal heat in 22.74. Morris was not far behind crossing the line in 23.11.
Also qualifying on the track was sophomore Deonna Lawrence. The Lady Tiger All-American advanced to her first outdoor 400 final after finishing her race in 52.03 seconds.
In the field, LSU will be represented by Andrea Linton in the women's triple jump. The sophomore finished tied for seventh in the prelims, jumping a personal-best 42-10 3/4, a mark that ranks as the seventh best in Lady Tiger history.
Also with the ability to score some points for the Lady Tigers tomorrow will be senior Megan Akre in the heptathlon. Through four events the Sugar Land, Texas, native sits in eighth-place with 3,255 points. Her day was highlighted by a 13.87 effort in the 100 hurdles and a 24.72 showing in the 200 meters, events in which she placed third and sixth, respectively.
“It was pretty much a flawless day,” Shaver said of his team's effort. “They all advanced exactly like I expected them to.”
LSU will have 10 athletes – four men, six women -- and both its 4x400-meter relay teams vying for crucial team points in the final day of competition.
“The way I see it Florida State is in command and they control their own destiny,” said Shaver on the men's team race. “But a lot of things can happen. All we can do is control our own business.”
FSU currently sits in 20th with seven points, but like LSU, is expected to score the majority of their points on the final day. Arizona leads the team race after three days with 28 points. Tennessee (26) and Wisconsin (24) are second and third, respectively.
On the women's side, Shaver believes the team race is still wide open, but that Auburn likely has the inside track. Through nine events Texas and Nebraska are tied for the team lead with 26 points, but the Tigers are just two points behind in third. The Lady Tigers sit in a three-way tie for 15th with eight points.
The NCAA Championships will conclude tomorrow afternoon with the crowning of the men's and women's team champions. Competition will get underway at noon (CT) with the field events. The conclusion of the women's heptathlon will start at 12:30 p.m. and the open running events will follow at 2:05 p.m.
CBS will air two and a half hours of live coverage beginning at 2:30 p.m.
LSU NCAA CHAMPIONS
Men
4x100-Meter Relay – 38.44
Richard Thompson
Xavier Carter
Marvin Stevenson
Kelly Willie
LSU ALL-AMERICANS
Women
4x100-Meter Relay – 42.94
Sherry Fletcher
Brooklynn Morris
Juanita Broaddus
Kelly Baptiste
Jessica Ohanaja (prelims only)
TEAM STANDINGS (Top 15 only)
Men (through 10 events)
1. Arizona, 28
2. Tennessee, 26
3. Wisconsin, 24
4. Virginia Tech, 23
5. Arkansas, 22
6. Nebraska, 19
7. Texas, 17
T8. North Carolina, 16
T8. Oregon, 16
10. UTEP, 14
11. USC, 12
12. Texas A&M, 11
T13. LSU, 10
T13. BYU, 10
15. UCLA, 9
Women (through nine events)
T1. Texas, 26
T1. Nebraska, 26
3. Auburn, 22
4. Arizona State, 19
5. USC, 16
6. Georgia, 14.25
7. Air Force, 12
8. Alabama, 11
T9. Colorado, 10
T9. South Carolina, 10
T9. Duke, 10
T9. Providence, 10
13. Michigan, 9
14. Notre Dame, 8.25
T15. LSU, 8
T15. North Carolina, 8
T15. Illinois, 8
LSU Athletes in the NCAA Championships
|
Wednesday, June 7 | ||||||
|
Time (CT) |
Event |
Round |
LSU Athlete |
Place |
Mark |
Pts/Adv. |
|
Noon |
100 Meters |
Decathlon (M) |
2 |
11.20 |
817 pts. | |
| Long Jump |
4 |
23-5 1/4 |
847 pts. | |||
| Shot Put |
1 |
49-7 1/4 |
797 pts. | |||
| High Jump |
t17 |
6-0 |
653 pts. | |||
| 400 Meters |
14 |
50.75 |
780 pts. | |||
| DAY 1 TOTAL |
5 |
|
3,894 | |||
|
100 Meters |
Decathlon (M) | Edwin Billot |
19 |
11.48 |
757 pts. | |
| Long Jump |
23 |
20-11 1/4 |
670 pts. | |||
| Shot Put |
25 |
35-10 1/2 |
542 pts. | |||
| High Jump |
t4 |
6-6 |
785 pts. | |||
| 400 Meters |
|
22 |
51.88 |
730 pts. | ||
| DAY 1 TOTAL |
20 |
|
3,484 | |||
|
5 p.m. |
4x100 (W) |
Semifinal |
LSU |
3 |
43.47 |
Adv. |
|
5:20 p.m. |
4x100 (M) |
Semifinal |
LSU |
1 |
38.87 |
Adv. |
|
5:30 p.m. |
100 Hurdles (W) |
1st Round |
17 |
13.48 |
Adv. | |
|
5:30 p.m. |
Long Jump (W) |
Qualifying |
26 |
19-0 |
-- | |
|
5:40 p.m. |
800 (W) |
1st Round |
21 |
2:07.45 |
-- | |
|
7:10 p.m. |
200 (W) |
1st Round |
2 |
22.85 |
Adv. | |
|
10 |
23.14 |
Adv. | ||||
|
7:30 p.m. |
200 (M) |
1st Round |
2 |
20.72 |
Adv. | |
|
7:50 p.m. |
400 (W) |
1st Round |
7 |
52.58 |
Adv. | |
|
16 |
53.22 |
Adv. | ||||
|
8:10 p.m. |
400 (M) |
1st Round |
2 |
45.51 |
Adv. | |
|
16 |
46.41 |
Adv. | ||||
|
19 |
46.47 |
-- | ||||
|
8:30 p.m. |
100 Hurdles (W) |
Semifinal |
-- |
DQ |
-- | |
|
9 p.m. |
High Jump (W) |
Qualifying |
24 |
5-8 1/2 |
-- | |
|
9:15 p.m. |
Long Jump (M) |
Qualifying |
-- |
Foul |
-- | |
| Thursday, June 8 | ||||||
|
Time (CT) |
Event |
Round |
LSU Athlete |
Place |
Mark |
Pts/Adv. |
|
Noon |
110 Hurdles | Decathlon (M) |
8 |
15.04 |
845 pts. | |
| Discus |
|
-- |
FOUL |
-- | ||
| Pole Vault |
-- |
DNS |
-- | |||
| Javelin |
-- |
DNS |
-- | |||
| 1500 Meters |
-- |
-- |
-- | |||
| TOTAL |
-- |
DNF |
-- | |||
| 110 Hurdles | Decathlon (M) | Edwin Billot |
6 |
14.85 |
868 pts. | |
| Discus |
22 |
104-2 |
499 pts. | |||
| Pole Vault |
t5 |
15-1 |
790 pts. | |||
| Javelin |
17 |
148-11 |
521 pts. | |||
| 1500 Meters |
15 |
4:57.74 |
573 pts. | |||
| TOTAL |
15 |
6,735 | ||||
| 5:30 p.m. | 100 (W) | 1st Round | Kelly Baptiste |
3 |
11.33 |
Adv. |
| Sherry Fletcher |
17 |
11.58 |
Adv. | |||
| 5:50 p.m. | 100 (M) | 1st Round | Xavier Carter |
2 |
10.25 |
Adv. |
| 6:30 p.m. | 400 Hurdles (M) | 1st Round | Isa Phillips |
2 |
50.07 |
Adv. |
| 7:20 p.m. | 100 (W) | Semifinal | Kelly Baptiste |
2 |
11.24 |
Adv. |
| Sherry Fletcher |
18 |
11.70 |
-- | |||
| 7:30 p.m. | 100 (M) | Semifinal | Xavier Carter |
3 |
10.145 |
Adv. |
| 8:30 p.m. | 4x400 (W) | Semifinal | LSU |
3 |
3:30.38 |
Adv. |
| 8:55 p.m. | 4x400 (M) | Semifinal | LSU |
1 |
3:03.50 |
Adv. |
| Friday, June 9 | ||||||
|
Time (CT) |
Event |
Round |
LSU Athlete |
Place |
Mark |
Pts/Adv. |
| Noon | 100 Hurdles | Heptathlon (W) | Megan Akre |
3 |
13.87 |
997 |
| High Jump |
t18 |
5-5 1/4 |
806 | |||
| Shot Put |
25 |
33-3 1/4 |
539 | |||
| 200 Meters |
6 |
24.72 |
913 | |||
| Day 1 Total |
8 |
3,255 | ||||
| 3 p.m. | Triple Jump (W) | Qualifying | Andrea Linton |
t7 |
42-10 3/4 |
Adv. |
| 6 p.m. | 4x100 (W) | Final | LSU |
2 |
42.94 |
8 pts. |
| 6:10 p.m. | 4x100 (M) | Final | LSU |
1 |
38.44 |
10 pts. |
| 7:25 p.m. | 400 (W) | Semifinal |
8 |
52.03 |
Adv. | |
|
13 |
53.32 |
-- | ||||
| 7:35 p.m. | 400 (M) | Semifinal |
1 |
44.96 |
Adv. | |
|
13 |
46.78 |
-- | ||||
| 7:45 p.m. | 200 (W) | Semifinal |
2 |
22.74 |
Adv. | |
|
6 |
23.11 |
Adv. | ||||
| 7:55 p.m. | 200 (M) | Semifinal |
1 |
20.46 |
Adv. | |
| 8:20 p.m. | 400 Hurdles (M) | Semifinal | Isa Phillips |
3 |
49.36 |
Adv. |
| Saturday, June 10 | ||||||
|
Time (CT) |
Event |
Round |
LSU Athlete |
Place |
Mark |
Pts/Adv. |
| 12:30 p.m. | Long Jump | Heptathlon (W) | Megan Akre |
18 |
18-5 |
732 |
| Javelin |
-- |
-- |
-- | |||
| 800 Meters |
-- |
-- |
-- | |||
| Total |
9 |
3,987 | ||||
| 2:30 p.m. | Triple Jump (W) | Final | Andrea Linton |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 2:35 p.m. | 100 (W) | Final | Kelly Baptiste |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 2:42 p.m. | 100 (M) | Final | Xavier Carter |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 3:02 p.m. | 400 Hurdles (M) | Final | Isa Phillips |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 3:10 p.m. | 400 (W) | Final |
-- |
-- |
-- | |
| 3:20 p.m. | 400 (M) | Final |
-- |
-- |
-- | |
| 3:30 p.m. | 200 (W) | Final |
-- |
-- |
-- | |
|
-- |
-- |
-- | ||||
| 3:40 p.m. | 200 (M) | Final |
-- |
-- |
-- | |
| 4:32 p.m. | 4x400 (W) | Final | LSU |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 4:45 p.m. | 4x400 (M) | Final | LSU |
-- |
-- |
-- |
