Track & Field: Jasmine Manuel Grabs Weekly Sun Belt Honor

Matt Hebert, UL Sports Information, March 28, 2012

LAFAYETTE – Jasmine Manuel, who turned in a personal best in the long jump at last weekend’s LSU Relays, was named the Sun Belt Conference Women’s Field Athlete of the Week, the league office announced on Wednesday.
 
It’s the second weekly honor of the 2012 season for the senior from Hammond, La. Manuel picked up the honor during the indoor portion of the campaign following a school indoor record performance in the triple jump at the Arkansas State Invitational on Jan. 27.
 
Manuel was the top collegian in the women’s long jump at the LSU Relays on Friday, March 23 with a leap of 6.17m/20-3 which was one foot higher than the next collegian.
 
The outing marked the first time she participated in a meet since placing fourth in the triple jump at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
 
Manuel walked away from the event by easily surpassing her previous outdoor long jump best of 5.75m/18-10 ½ set at the 2011 Cole-Lancon Invitational in Lafayette. The mark also eclipsed her overall personal best of 6.10m/20-0 ¼ recorded at the Sun Belt Indoor Championships this season.
 
“Jasmine picked up where she left off from the indoor season and it came in an event that is not her specialty,” head coach Lon Badeaux said. “She is definitely deserving of his honor.”
 
Manuel currently tops the Sun Belt Conference outdoor performance list in the women’s long jump following Saturday’s performance.
 
The Ragin’ Cajuns are in Austin, Texas, this weekend for the 85th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, scheduled to run March 28-31 at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas.