On the weekend of March 22, the Cajuns track and field competed at Rice University, and the other at Louisiana State University.
In Baton Rouge, Louisiana had a big weekend by breaking a school record and setting nine top-10 scores. Lily Murray began the day by breaking a school record hammer throw of 189-10, by 5 feet. The throwers continued to have a strong day when Laila Guy’s shot put of 44-11.75 moved her into fifth in the school record books.
Moseiha Bridgen won the 400 hurdles while also recording the third-fastest time in the event by a Cajun at 58.6. Not far behind was her teammate Ta’La Spates in third at 1:00.27, the seventh-fastest time in school history.
Distance runners also saw their names in the record books. Ella Segura’s became the sixth-fastest time in the 1500 with a time of 4:36.96. Haley Salsbury was not far behind her with a time of 4:38.69, the eighth-best time in school history. Javed Jones won the 400 hurdles with a time of 52.15, putting him fifth in school history.
The night prior, the Cajuns competed in distance events at the Houston Invitational where they saw three top-10 scores. In the 10k, Brooke Spalitta had a time of 37:16.91 and Isabelle Russell, 38:07.38. With those times, they ran the fourth and sixth-fastest time in school history.
Nathan Fontan capped the top-10 scores with a 31:44.88 to move into sixth in school history in the 10k. Peyton Chaisson won the 1500 with a time of 3:51.66, while placing second in the 300 steeplechase with a time of 9:14.14. Louisiana had three of the top four in the 1500 on that Saturday with Andrew Leck finishing third (3:52.28) and Reece Shelby finishing fourth (3:54.37).
Three of the top four in women’s javelin were Cajuns. Blair Lafleur took home first with a throw of 149-5. Behind her in second was Marin Barras (142-0) while Emma Bacilla took fourth at 133-04.
Sticking with the throwers, Praiyer Jones placed second in the shot put at 53-0.25. In the discus, Kimola Hines finished second with a throw of 158-10. Also in field events, Frederico Bovo, took home third in the high jump at 6-9.
Recently, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Track and Field participated in the Alabama Relays April 4th-5th. On the first day of the relays, the Cajuns participated in the men’s hammer throw, women’s hammer throw, as well as both men and women discus throw.
Oliver Jack placed 4th in the men’s hammer throw with a final distance of 50 ft, 57 in. scratching three out of five attempts. Tyree Hannah made it to finals with a throw of 50.67 ft in the men’s hammer throw.
In the Women’s throw, freshman Lily Murray placed 5th overall with a throw of 54.55 ft. Junior Marin Barras placed 9th, qualifying for finals with a throw of 50.38.
Women’s Discuss had three participants. Junior Kimola Hines placed 3rd overall with a throw of 52 ft, 12 in. Coming in 9th overall was Jayden Jackson with a throw of 44 ft, 60 in. Lastly was Ashley McMillan with a throw of 42 ft, and 96 in.
Continuing with the field events, on Saturday, April 5th, the relays opened with the women’s javelin throw. Marin Barras finished 3rd overall with a throw of 49 ft, 21 in. Blair Lafluer finished 9th overall with a throw of 45 ft, 5 in.
The women’s shot put ended with Jaydan Jackson placing 8th overall with a throw of 13ft,75in.
The women’s 4×100 relay team consisted of Jaala Thymes, Ta’La Spates, Mari Robinson, and Amari Ashford who finished 2nd overall with a time of 45.03. As well as the men’s 4×100, which consisted of Trejun Jones, Garry Munro, Chris Gravois and Jamhad Booth, coming in 3rd overall with a time of 39.97.
Fast forwarding to the 4 x 400 relay, the women took home fourth overall with a time of 3:48.55. The team consisted of Kenzie Touchet, Moseiha Bridgen, Ta’La Spates and Quincy Simon. The men’s 4 x 400 relay also took home fourth overall with a time of 3:10.57. The team consisted of Antoni Hoyte-Small, Javed Jones, Jarrell Joseph and Mekhi Boutte.
Up next for the Cajuns is the Leon Johnson Invitational happening in Natchitoches on April 12-13.