NEWS

It is safe to say that Louisiana Tech’s women’s track and field team has established a dynasty after winning their fifth straight outdoor conference title this weekend at Ralph Manghan Track in Logan, Utah.

Tech’s men’s team finished in third place for the second consecutive year with 130 points, just eight points out of second place.

“I’m extremely proud of both teams and our assistant coaches,” Tech head coach Gary Stanley said. “It was just a great team effort and I think both teams handled the altitude and cold weather very well. We had a number of athletes set new regional qualifying marks, the women won their fifth straight championship and Albert Fullwood won the men’s track Performer of the Year Award for a second time. We fought hard for two days and I’m very proud of everyone.”

Last season Shreveport, La. native Albert Fullwood won the men’s WAC outdoor Performer of the Year and this year, again he did not disappoint winning the 400, 200 and running the anchor leg on the second place 4X400 team on his way to the 2009 WAC track Performer of the Year. Fullwood’s 400 time of 46.63 seconds and 200 time of 21.08 seconds were each regional qualifying times.

Stanley shared the 2009 WAC Coach of the Year Award with Nevada’s Shantel Twiggs. Stanley also won this year’s WAC Indoor Coach of the Year Award.

“The Coach of the Year Award is always shared by our entire coaching staff,” Stanley said. “Associate head coach Shawn Jackson and assistant coaches Larry Carmichael and Charles Ryan deserve a lot of credit for what they do for our program.”

The Lady Techsters blew away the competition scoring winning the conference by 21.5 points and having eight first place finishes.

Sophomore Quatisha Williams was a double winner taking the women’s long jump with a jump of 18′ 11.75″ and the triple jump with a regional qualifying jump of 40′ 7.00″. Sophomore Brittney Guy was second behind Williams in the triple jump with a regional qualifying jump of 40’0.50″.

Tech went one-two in the women’s shot put as senior Nadia Alexander finished first with a regional qualifying throw of 54′ 0.50″ and junior Tierah Hall finished second with a throw of 47′ 11.25, also a regional qualifier.

The women’s 4X100 team of Chasidee Lewis-Baker, Stacia Hanneman, Lashannda Worthy and Monique Wright set a venue record while finishing first with a regional qualifying time of 44.66 seconds.

Lewis-Baker also won the 100m with a regional qualifying time of 11.67 seconds and Hanneman had a regional qualifying time while winning the 200m at 23.94 seconds.

Junior Antoinette Cobb took home first place in the 100m hurdles with a regional qualifying time of 13.51 seconds.

The Lady Techsters also went one-two in the 400m as Kamelia Stroy won the race with a regional qualifying time of 53.40 and Monique Wright finished second at 53.44, also a regional qualifier.

Louisiana Tech’s men’s team had four first place finishes while being led by Fullwood who won the 200, 400 and was a member of the second place 4X400 team.

Sophomore and Ruston native Larry Jones had an outstanding day in field events as the former Ruston High star won the discus with a throw of 168′ 1″. Jones also finished second in the javelin with a regional qualifying throw of 210′ 3″ and fifth in the shot put with a throw of 51′ 7.75″.

Sophomore sprinter Terry Carter won the men’s 100m with a time of 10.66 seconds while also finishing second in the 200 behind Fullwood with a regional qualifying time of 21.16 seconds. The West Monroe, La. native was also a member of the second place 4X100 and 4X400 teams. Carter will also be battling for a starting corner back position for Tech’s football team in the fall.

Senior Kinsey Dinnel finished second in the 3000m steeple chase with a regional qualifying time of 9:29.97. Dinnel also had a regional qualifying time of 3:54.68 while finishing fourth in the 1500m run.

Sophomore Billy Walker finished third in the 110m hurdles while qualifying for regionals with a time of 14.21 seconds. Walker was also a member of the second place 4X100 relay team. The team consisted of Walker, Kevin Stewart, Carter and Jarred Pitcher. Their time was 40.91 seconds.

Stewart had a solid day on the track as he was not only a member of the second place 4X100 team, but he also finised third in the 100m with a time of 10.81 seconds and brought home a third place finish in the 200 at 21.46 seconds.

Sophomore Marcelles Atkinson had a regional qualifying time of 52.15 seconds while finishing third in the 400m hurdles. Atkinson was alos a member of the 4X400 team that finished second with a time of 3:11.21. The team consisted of Atkinson, Wade McGaha, Carter and Fullwood.

In order for an athlete to earn first team All-WAC they must finish in the top three and second team All-WAC goes to places four through six. Louisiana Tech had 22 athletes earn First Team All-WAC honors and 11 who earned second team.

First Team All-WAC Honors- Nadia Alexander (shot put), Shante Benion (4X400), Antoinette Cobb (100m hurdles), Brittney Guy (triple jump), Tierah Hall (shot put), Stacia Hanneman (100, 200, 4X100, 4X400), Chasidee Lewis-Baker (100, 4X100), El Charrita Reynolds (4X400), Kamelia Stroy (400), Quatisha Williams (long jump, triple jump), Lashannda Worthy (4X100, 4X400), Monique Wright (200,400, 4X100), Marcelles Atkinson (400 hurdles, 4X400), Terry Carter (100,200, 4×100, 4X400), Kinsey Dinnel (3000m steeple chase), Albert Fullwood (200, 400, 4X400), Alwayne Green (800), Larry Jones (discus, javelin), Wade McGaha (4X400), Jarred Pitcher (4X100), Kevin Stewart (100, 200, 4X100) and Billy Walker (110 hurdles, 4X100).

Second Team All-WAC honors- Sapphira Brown (triple jump), Rakeisha Green (100), Chasidee Lewis-Baker (200), El Charrita Reynolds (400), Lashannda Worthy (400), Kinsey Dinnel (1500m), Shaun Haughton (discus), Larry Jones (shot put), Jonathan Keys (triple jump), Wade McGaha (400 hurdles) and Zach Schuler (10,000m).

Written by Malcolm Butler