Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns men’s and women’s track and wrapped up the 2011 Sun Belt Conference Indoor Championships on Monday afternoon at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro, Ark., bringing home four more individual titles and eight additional all-conference selections.

Jasmine Anderson, who claimed first place finishes in the 55 meter hurdles and 200 meter dash, was named the Women’s Most Outstanding Track Performer. The senior was also the top scorer in the meet, garnering 28.25 points.

The Ragin’ Cajuns men finished in fifth place with 76 points, just 15 behind Arkansas State for fourth and 14 ahead of UALR. The Ragin’ Cajuns women finished with 44.5 points and placed seventh in the team standings.

Added with Sunday’s results, Louisiana claimed six individual titles and 12 all-conference accolades.

"Throughout this indoor season we’ve had top performances in several events," said interim head coach Paula Ogunbanjo. "At this conference meet, several of our athletes stepped up and performed well."  

Anderson posted a 55 meter hurdles time of 7.72 seconds, besting North Texas’ Alysha Adams by .007 seconds (7.712 to 7.719). Anderson’s time tied the Sun Belt Championships standard set by Lauren Wiggins in 2008.

In the 200 meter dash, Anderson ran 24.41 and bested Adams (24.54) again for an event title. The time was also her 2011 season best, topping 24.51 at the Texas A&M Conference Challenge.

Jasmine Manuel brought the Cajuns women a title in the field events. Manuel, coming off a school record leap of 12.69m/41-7 ¾ in the triple jump at Clemson on Feb. 12, topped that record mark again on Monday. Manuel recorded a distance of 12.77m/41-10 ¾ and came in ahead of Western Kentucky’s Antquinita Reed (12.55m/41-2 ¼) who was tied with her 27^th nationally in the triple jump.

Garrett Harkless took home the individual championship in the men’s weight throw. Harkless’ toss of 18.36m/60-3 was nearly two feet further than runner-up Steven Nobles of South Alabama (17.82m/58-05.75). Monday’s toss marked Harkless’ second of 60-plus feet (threw 63-0 at Texas A&M Conference Challenge).

Other notable results for UL on the men’s side included Justin Jones placing fifth in the 55 meter dash (6.46 seconds) and Kenneth Bellard (15.20m/49-10 ½) and O’Daylon Thibeaux (15.13m/49-7 ¾) placing second and third, respectively, in the triple jump.

On the women’s side, Alexis Malone and Morgan Breaux joined Anderson in the 55 meter dash finals. Malone ran the dash in 7.10 seconds and finished sixth, while Breaux clocked in at 7.23 seconds and finished ninth.

The Ragin’ Cajuns will be back in action as a team when they open the outdoor season at the McNeese Cowboy Relays on March 12 in Lake Charles.

MEN’S PERFORMANCE LIST
Heptathlon
Total Points (FINAL)
Chris Raborn (11) 4,029 points
Casey Comeaux (12) 3,972

• 55-Meter Hurdles
  Chris Raborn (5) 8.18 – 788 pts
  Casey Comeax (12) 8.86 – 631 pts
•  Pole Vault
  Casey Comeaux (12) 3.30m/10-10 – 431 pts
• 1,000m
  Chris Raborn (2) 2:52.28 – 742 pts
  Casey Comeaux (11) 3:10.02 – 569 pts

55m
Justin Jones (5) 6.46

5000m
Zach France (18) 15:53.90
Juan Rodriguez (21) 16:07.34
Patrick Spiller (26) 16:56.56
Cody Tilley (27) 17:06.85

4×400 Relay
Justin Jones, Willie Allen, DeMarcus Runnels, Kelvan Turner (4) 3:20.36

Triple Jump
Kenneth Bellard (2) 15.20m/49-10 ½
O’Daylon Thibeaux (3) 15.13m/49-7 ¾

Weight Throw
Garrett Harkless (1) 18.36m/60-3
Jacob Domingue (4) 17.48m/57-4 ¼
Jacob Fontenot (11) 15.39m/50-6
Albert Fornette (12) 14.82m/48-7 ½
Donnie Broussard (17) 13.21m/43-4 ¼

 

WOMEN’S PERFORMANCE LIST
Pentathlon
Total Points (FINAL)
Angela Roberts (13) 2,994 points

• 55-Meter Hurdles
  Angela Roberts (8) 8.88 – 798 pts
• High Jump
  Angela Roberts (15) 1.42m/4-7 ¾ – 534 pts
• Shot Put
  Angela Roberts (15) 8.44m/27-8 ¼ – 428 pts
• Long Jump
  Angela Roberts (5) 5.22m/17-1 ½ – 620 pts
• 800m
  Angela Roberts (6) 2:36.44 – 614 pts

55m
Jasmine Anderson (2) 7.05
Alexis Malone (6) 7.10
Morgan Breaux (9) 7.23

200m
Jasmine Anderson (1) 24.41

1 mile
Petrona Layne (9) 5:22.06
Kara Martin (18) 6:05.76

5000m
Jenna Picou (22) 19:38.05

55m Hurdles
Jasmine Anderson (1) 7.72

4×400 Relay
Jasmine Anderson, April Colomb, Krystal Chevis, Amanda Roberts (8) 3:55.92

Triple Jump
Jasmine Manuel (1) 12.77m/41-10 ¾
Ta’Shania Bean (19) 10.61m/34-9 ¾

Pole Vault
Amber Laurent (8) 3.45m/11-3 ¾

Weight Throw
Jansen Williams (17) 12.98m/42-7

Mark Your Calendar!

The 2nd Annual Track & Field Reunion is planned for March 18-19, 2011.