Track & Field: Ragin’ Cajuns Roll To Ted Nelson Invitational Men’s Titl

Louisiana earns combined four individual titles, 20 top-five finishes in 17-team field

Matt Sullivan, Associate Director of Athletics Communications

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The trio of Cole Courtois, Dominique Williams and Rylan Theyard each claimed titles in men’s competition while freshman Emoni Coleman claimed the women’s 800-meters to lead the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Track and Field team at the Ted Nelson Invitational on Friday at the Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium.

Louisiana, which earned a combined 20 top-five finishes, claimed the men’s 17-team field with 94 points while the Ragin’ Cajuns women’s team finished sixth overall (43.5) among 17 teams.

Courtois, who set the meet record in the men’s pole vault at the 2019 event, claimed his first individual title in a Louisiana uniform after clearing 16-1 ¼. The New Iberia native was one of three Ragin’ Cajuns to finish in the top eight with Chandler Mixon finishing sixth (15-7 ¼) with freshman Nick Russell finishing eighth (15-1 ½).

Williams, the defending Sun Belt Conference champion in the men’s weight throw, built on his season-opening mark last week of 64-5 to post a mark of 64-8 to claim first-place honors by over three feet.

Theyard, who earned a pair of top-five finishes, led Louisiana to a 1-2 finish in the men’s high jump after clearing the bar at 6-8 ¼ with teammate Damon Guidry finishing second at 6-6 ¼. Theyard came back in the men’s triple jump where his mark of 48-2 ¾ earned him a fifth-place finish.

In the men’s shot put, Shaquille Singuineau posted a second-place finish in the event after recording a mark of 52-10 while John Joseph finished eighth overall in the men’s long jump (22-10 ¾).

Coleman produced one of eight top-5 finishes on the women’s side for Louisiana when she claimed the 800-meters in 2:14.91. Freshman Kiana Foster clocked a time of 7.62 in the 60-meter dash preliminaries before finishing fourth (7.74) in the finals. Another freshman, Ta’La Spates, clocked a time of 57.26 to finish eighth overall in the women’s 400-meters while the 4×400-meter relay team placed fifth overall (3:52.61).

The men’s 4×400-meter relay team recorded a time of 3:16.01 and finished second behind host Texas A&M.

Tahj Whitfield (8.11, 60-meter hurdles) and Terroll Jolla (21.56, 200-meters) each earned third-place finishes in their respective events for the Ragin’ Cajuns with Yves Cherubin (8.19, 60-meter hurdles) and Key Alfred (1:54.69, 800-meters) each finishing fourth.

Louisiana placed three runners in the top-eight in the men’s 400-meter dash as Nathan Fergusson (48.62) was fourth, Kemondrick Walter (49.00) fifth and Tyrell Hargrove (49.56) eighth.

The Ragin’ Cajuns placed three athletes in the top-eight of the women’s pole vault with Kimmie Rushford finishing fourth (11-9), Reagann Leleux (11-3) fifth and freshman Cammi Martinez (11-3) eighth.

Frankie Griffin (5-6) and freshman Taylor Davis (5-4 ¼) finished third and fourth respectively for Louisiana in the women’s high jump with Alexis James posting her second top-5 finish of the season in the women’s weight throw (54-7 ¼).

Louisiana will continue its competition in the Lone Star State beginning on Friday when it travels to Houston to compete in the FasTrak Collegiate and Multi-Event Challenge at Yeoman Fieldhouse.