Track & Field: Victor Wins Twice; Cajuns Record Nine First-Place Finishes At Louisiana Classics
Driskell sets school record in pole vault; Cormier posts strong time in 400 hurdles
LAFAYETTE – Justin Victor kept up his strong start to the 2015 season as he captured a pair of individual titles and helped lead the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns track and field team at the Louisiana Classics that concluded on Saturday at the Ragin’ Cajuns Track and Soccer Complex.
Competing in its second outdoor meet of the season, Louisiana earned nine first-place and five second-place performances in its first home meet in two seasons.
Victor claimed first-place honors in both the shot out (52-3 ¾) and hammer throw (215-11) with William LeBlanc claiming the high jump crown (6-7 ½) and Morgan Cormier placing first in the 400-meter hurdles (51.98).
On the women’s side, Claire Hodges earned first place in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (11:37.20) with Jana Jones claiming the shot put (45-4 ½), Alexandra Harrell the high jump (5-7 ¾) and Amie Leitko the discus (139-0). The women’s 4×400 meter relay team turned in a first-place time in 3:54.08 while Meredith Driskell broke her own school record in the pole vault, finishing second overall with a mark of 12-8 ¼).
"I felt like we had some pretty good performances today … overall, it was very successful" head coach Lon Badeaux said. "Meredith Driskell had a breakthrough in the pole vault breaking her own school record and I thought our men’s 4×100-meter relay team ran an outstanding time for their first time out. Morgan Cormier had an outstanding personal best in the 400 hurdles that should qualify him for the (NCAA East) preliminary meet."
Tamela Young earned a second-place finish for the Ragin’ Cajuns in the shot put (43-9 ½) while Jones (130-0) placed second overall in the discus.
The Ragin’ Cajuns added four second-place finishes in the men’s competition highlighted by both the 4×100-meter relay (40.26) and the 4×400-meter relay (3:18.30) teams. Ricky Theyard earned a second-place finish in the long jump (23-2 ½) with Kenneth Nassar following Victor in the shot put (51-1 ½).
"I was very encouraged that most of our athletes were able to build on what we were able to last weekend. Being a coach, you always find places and mistakes that you can improve, but I felt like we had a very successful meet."
Louisiana will return to action next week when several athletes will compete in the prestigious Texas Relays that begin on March 25. The Ragin’ Cajuns will return to action as a team on April 10-11 when they compete in the Jaguar Invitational in Mobile, Ala.
