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Track & Field: Cajuns honor past glory, point toward future at Louisiana ClassicsBruce Brown, Special to the Advertiser, March 16, 2019 
Cajuns Tyler Hughes runs the 110m hurdles as the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns host the Louisiana Classics track meet. Saturday, March 16, 2019. (Photo: SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network) Click here for the meet photo gallery by Scott Clause/USA Today Network. Athletic Network Footnote by Dr. Ed Dugas UL’s Ragin’ Cajun track and field program turned the spotlight on past glories during Saturday’s Louisiana Classics meet, honoring athletes from as long ago as the 1940s and coming from as far away as Australia. Then it was time to turn the focus on the here and now — and the immediate future — as current Cajuns like Frankie Griffin and Tyler Hughes showed promise of things to come. Griffin, a sophomore in her outdoor season debut, won the women’s high jump with a clearance of 5-9.75, and Hughes maintained his early-season momentum with a runner-up 14.51 time in the men’s 110 high hurdles. “I was a little nervous,” Griffin said. “I didn’t feel that good. I never do good in the cold. But after my first couple of jumps the coaches said I looked fine.” MORE: Cajuns welcome ex-standouts for Louisiana Classics track weekend LSU’s Kaitlyn Walker finished second at 5-7.75 in a spirited duel. “(Clearing) 5-9 was my goal for the season,” Griffin said. “I guess I’ll have to make another one. I guess it will be 5-10 right now. Six feet feels unrealistically high. It scares me — so 5-10.” It was the kind of day that can prompt high hopes. “I felt refreshed today,” she said. Hughes didn’t exactly feel refreshed, but he wasn’t disappointed, either, after trailing only LSU’s Arthur Price (14.25). Hughes has the No. 4 time in the country at 14.19, set at McNeese last week; Price’s Classics effort put him at No. 5. 
Amber Campbell runs the womens 400m as the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns host the Louisiana Classics track meet. Saturday, March 16, 2019. (Photo: SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network) MORE: Cajuns open outdoor season at McNeese “My hamstring’s been giving me a little trouble,” Hughes said. “It’s still a little rough with my lead leg. It’s a long season. The big thing is staying healthy. “We get two weeks off now, and that will be nice.” The fifth-year senior is still adjusting to outdoors and a 5-hurdle race indoors. “After you do five hurdles, and you have five more, that tests you,” he said. “It was cool today, and the wind wasn’t behind you or in your face. It was more to the side. “It’s definitely different for my fifth year. When I was young, I’d come in, jog and be ready. It takes more time now. But my experience helps with my confidence now. “I definitely want to run 13.7, 13.8 this year. Under 14 early would really be nice.” MORE: Area’s best track and field performances Hughes, for one, appreciated the track and field alumni guests. “Seeing them out on the field makes you want ro run faster,” he said. “They’re here, looking at you perform, and you want to be where they’ve been. (Olympic medalist) Hollis Conway gave us a good talk.” The Cajun men had a strong weekend in field events. Kyle Baudoin won the pole vault with a 17-foot clearance, Odarius Ware (24-3) took the long jump and John Joseph conquered the triple jump (48-7.25) on Saturday, following on the heels of Friday’s 1-2-3 in the hammer throw from Graham Sokol (185-11), Richard Delphin (185-10) and Dominique Williams (184-5), while Damon Guidry and Ryland Theyard were 2-3 in the high jump (both 6-4.75). For the women, unattached Cajun Kalei Matthews won the 200 at 24.43 on Friday and was second in Saturday’s 400 (54.90) and third in the triple jump (39-1.5). Reagann Leleux, Juliette Smith, Erica Stewart and Kaprecia Cowans were second in the 4×100 relay in 47.12. Former Lafayette High star Rebekah Markel of Tulane won the women’s pole vault at 13-2.25 and ex-Acadiana High and UL runner Kevin Castille clocked a 30:00.02 in Friday’s 10,000 meters.
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