UL Performs Well in Triple Jump and Throws at LSU Alumni Gold

Contact: Matt Hebert

Meet Results

BATON ROUGE – A strong showing in the triple jump and solid performances from the throws group highlighted the Ragin' Cajuns Track and Field squad's participation in the LSU Alumni Gold meet Saturday at Bernie Moore Track Stadium.

Topping the performances was Ta'Shania Bean whose personal best triple jump distance of 12.18m/39-11 ½ provided her with a first place finish. It marked the second straight week that Bean notched a personal best, surpassing the previous best of 12.05m/39-6 ½ at the Mississippi Open on April 14.

Triple jump standout Jasmine Manuel returned to the outdoor scene for the first time since the Texas Relays (March 30) with a leap of 13.05m/42-9 ¾ which landed her second in the triple jump invitational. She was the top collegian in the event, besting Tulane's Estefany Cruz by nine inches.

Kenneth Bellard turned in a second place finish in the men's triple jump. Bellard leaped 15.21m/49-11 which was just shy of the team's season-best of 15.22m/49-11 ¼ established by O'Daylon Thibeaux at the Mississippi Open last weekend.

For Bellard, Saturday's triple jump mark was easily his career best in the outdoor venue and topped his overall career best of 15.20m/49-10 ½ set at last season's Sun Belt Indoor Championships.

The Cajuns men collected six Top 10 finishes in the throws led by Albert Fournette's second place showing in the shot put. Fournette, the leader on the Sun Belt Conference's performance list, notched a shot put distance of 19.00m/62-4 marked the sixth consecutive event he's posted a distance of 60-plus feet dating back to the indoor season.

Tyler Guidry collected seventh place finishes in the shot put (16.10m/52-10) and hammer throw (53.99m/177-1).

Brittany Blunt placed Top 10 in the women's hammer throw at 47.96m/157-4. It was Blunt's third throw of 155-plus feet of the 2012 outdoor campaign.

“Today was a tough day, but there were some really good performances considering the conditions,” head coach Lon Badeaux said. “The kids competed well and I was very happy with that.

“I thought the throws group excelled which we will need if we are going to be successful when the conference meet rolls around.”

Kacey Elphage continued to shine in the women's 100 meter hurdles as her time of 13.65 seconds marked the fifth time she's run under 14 seconds this season.

Justin Jones recorded a personal best time in the 100 meter dash at 10.49 seconds. Alexis Malone finished the women's version of the event in 12.04 seconds which placed her fourth and was just short of her personal best 11.92 seconds ran last weekend at Ole Miss.

Devin Davis' recorded distance of 7.03m/23-0 ¾ in the long jump was only one foot shy of a Top 3 placement and had him ahead of athletes from Texas A&M and South Florida.

Petrona Layne competed in the 800 meter run and for the third time finished in less than 2:20 as she placed fifth after clocking in at 2:16.83.

The Cajuns had relay teams take part in both the men's and women's 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays. The men's grouping of DeMarcus Runnels, Antoine Jackson, Willie Allen, Justin Jones ran the 4x400 relay in 3:18.65 which marked the top time for the team this season.

UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns wrap up the regular season portion of the 2012 schedule as they host the Cole-Lancon Invitational on Saturday, April 28 at the Ragin' Cajuns Track/Soccer Facility.

Following the Cole-Lancon Invitational, Louisiana hosts the Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Championships at the Ragin' Cajuns Track/Soccer Facility Friday-Sunday, May 11-13.

MEN'S PERFORMANCE LIST

4x100 Meter Relay
DeMarcus Runnels, Joshua Sigler, Justin Jones, Antoine Jackson (8) 41.64

100 Meter Dash
Justin Jones (15) 10.49

4x400 Meter Realy
DeMarcus Runnels, Antoine Jackson, Willie Allen, Justin Jones (9) 3:18.65

Long Jump
Devin Davis (7) 7.03m/23-0 ¾
Kenneth Bellard (8) 7.00m/22-11 ¾

Javelin Throw
Casey Comeaux (10) 58.64m/192-5
Chris Comeaux (12) 55.04m/180-7
Marc Malespin (17) 53.08m/174-2

Triple Jump
Kenneth Bellard (2) 15.21m/49-11

High Jump
Sander Maes (5) 2.02m/6-7 ½

Shot Put
Albert Fournette (2) 19.00m/62-4
Myles Melancon (6) 16.38m/53-9
Tyler Guidry (7) 16.10m/52-10

Hammer Throw
Jacob Fontenot (6) 54.12m/177-7
Tyler Guidry (7) 53.99m/177-1

Triple Jump Invitational
O'Daylon Thibeaux (7) 14.51m/47-7 ¼

WOMEN'S PERFORMANCE LIST

100 Meter Dash (Section B)
Alexis Malone (4) 12.04

800 Meter Run (Section B)
Petrona Layne (5) 2:16.83
April Colomb (7) 2:18.19

4x100 Meter Relay
Morgan Breaux, Jasmin Fusilier, Stacy Imagbe, Alexis Malone (8) 46.85

100 Meter Hurdles
Kacey Elphage (5) 13.65

4x400 Meter Relay
Jasmin Fusilier, Krystal Chevis, Stacy Imagbe, Amanda Roberts (10) 3:51.60

Discus Throw
Jana Jones (12) 35.44m/116-3

Long Jump
Ta'Shania Bean (9) 5.56m/18-3

Javelin Throw
Kirsten Meche (7) 42.42m/139-2
Amber Sharp (12) 37.36m/122-7

Triple Jump
Ta'Shania Bean (1) 12.18m/39-11 ½
Tarvia Conway (6) 11.71m/38-5

Hammer Throw
Brittany Blunt (10) 47.96m/157-4

Triple Jump Invitational
Jasmine Manuel (2) 13.05m/42-9 ¾

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

UL Performs Well in Triple Jump and Throws at LSU Alumni Gold

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