By Kyle Roberts

Sports Writer

Tech's men's and women's track teams dominated the Tech Twilight March 17 at the Jim Mize Track and Field Complex with two school records, three NCAA qualifying marks and seventeen first-place finishes on the night.

Tech was joined by University of Louisiana-Monroe, Grambling State University and Southeastern Louisiana University.

The Bulldogs swept all three teams by beating UL-Monroe 83-37, Grambling State 78-50 and SLU 77-42.

The Lady Techsters also won convincingly by defeating UL-Monroe 67-49, Grambling State 88-28 and SLU 80-35.

"We only have one home meet a year, and you want it to be a good one," Tech head coach Gary Stanley said.

Highlighting the night were first place finishes by Shandra Freeman (100-meter dash), Nina Gilbert (200), Latonia Wilson (400), Bridgitte Ladouceur (100-meter hurdles), Doria Appleberry (400 hurdles), Bejide Williams (long jump), Tawanna Williams (shot put) Brenda-Grace Hunt (javelin throw). Both the 400-meter relay and 1,600 relay team also posted first place finishes.

"The opening meet was difficult because we were coming off the indoor meet," Stanley said. "We had a very emotional indoor conference championship where our girls finished second and the men's team finished fifth."

At the Western Athletic Conference indoor championship February 26-28 in Boise, Id., Appleberry, Wilson, Gilbert and Krystal Cole ran a 3:40.35 in the 1,600 relay to break the conference record.

Ayanna Alexander posted a jump of 43-4 in the triple jump to set a school record and win the WAC title. The jump was also an NCAA provisional qualifying mark.

The Tech track teams with travel to Baton Rouge on March 26-27 for a relay meet at LSU.