Track & Field: Melancon tops UL track effort

Daily Advertiser, May 12, 2013

MIAMI, FLA. — Senior Myles Melancon highlighted action for the UL Ragin’ Cajuns track and field team on day two of the Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship, claiming the men’s shot put championship Saturday at the Ansin Sports Complex.

“I’m real proud of Myles finishing up his senior year strong,” head coach Lon Badeaux said. “We are going to need every point we can get on the men’s side. I though women did good today. I thought we did really well in the women’s field events with a number of top 3 finishes.”

The final day of the Sun Belt Outdoor Track and Field Championship gets under way at 9 a.m. today with the field events, while the running events get under way at 4 p.m. ET.

Melancon won the event with a throw of 16.60m/54-5½, which was his only good toss of the day. The St. Martinville native completed the sweep of the 2013 indoor and outdoor shot put championships having beaten teammate Albert Fournette at the indoor meet.

“Myles was clearly the best guy today,” Badeaux stated. “Last year he had a tough time, and he has really bounced back this spring. I know it was hard for him being in Albert’s shadow but now he has a chance to do some good things in a couple weeks.”

Devin Davis scored for the Ragin’ Cajuns in the long jump with a jump of 7.27m/23-10¼ to finish in sixth, while Westmoreland Gonzales ended up in sixth after the second day of the men’s decathlon with a total of 6,629 points.

On the women’s side, sophomore Jana Jones notched six points by turning in a third place throw in the shot put with a mark of 13.74m/45-1. Lindsay Harmon also landed on the podium in the high jump with a third place finish after jumping 1.77m/5-9¾.

In the women’s long jump, the Cajuns picked up 10 points led by Tia Mitchell who placed fourth with a personal-best jump of 6.15m/20-2¼. Ta’Shania Bean (5.96m/19-6¼) and Stacy Imagbe (5.96m/19-6¼) also scored for Louisiana with personal-best jumps finishing in sixth and seventh.

Jasmin Fusilier dropped one spot in the women’s heptathlon finishing the event with a final score of 4,758 to score four points.

In the running events, Kacey Elphage advanced to the finals of the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.49, while Crystal Chevis moved on in the 400-meter dash running a time of 55.92.

Both Morgan Breaux and Alexis Malone qualified in the women’s 100-meter dash as Breaux had a time of 11.78 with Malone just making the finals running a time of 12.03.

“We had a lot of qualifiers on the women’s side so I think we have a great chance to do well,” Badeaux mentioned.

Justin Jones moved on to the finals of the men’s 100-meter dash winning his heat with a time of 10.59. Antoine Jackson ran a time of 48.04 in the 400-meter dash to qualify for the finals tomorrow.

In the 400-meter hurdles, Morgan Cormier qualified for the finals running a time of 53.23.