Anyone know how we are doing at the SunBelt meet this weekend in New Orleans???
DaddyCajun!! ..O..
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Anyone know how we are doing at the SunBelt meet this weekend in New Orleans???
DaddyCajun!! ..O..
<blockquote><p align=justify>NEW ORLEANS - When you're young, it's amazing what you can do on just two hours' sleep.
Louisiana senior Kim Octave got that much rest Friday night, participated in UL graduation ceremonies and then scurried here for Saturday competition in the Aeropostale Sun Belt Conference Track & Field Championships at Tad Gormley Stadium.
Then, when she got here, Octave turned in a season-best, school-record tying, NCAA qualifying time of 13.88 in the women's 100-meter hurdles preliminaries.
"I didn't think my time would be that good," said Octave, second in her heat and the No. 2 qualifier for today's finals. "I thought it would be a lot worse, because I was so high over the hurdles.
"I knew that was taking time off, so I said I've really got to run between the hurdles. So, to have that time, I'm real excited."
Ciji Brooks of North Texas won the first heat in a time of 13.81, with Octave second, while the second heat victor was Middle Tennessee's Candice Robertson (13.96).
"With the training I've been doing, I thought the 13.8 range was pretty reasonable," said Octave, sporting a new hairdo and color (orange). "At least 13.9. I've been improving every day, so my time is going to drop. It's getting better every day.
"We're doing big things tomorrow. I think I can take at least another 0.3 off my time."
That's not that easy to do, but anything's possible when you've had the kind of day Octave had.
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Octave's teammate and close friend Clarissa Johnson had a more painful day, but still a successful one in its way.
Competing though hampered by an injured right foot that has hampered her all season, Johnson posted a season-best 19-7 performance in the long jump to exceed NCAA qualifying standards. Johnson placed sixth in an event won by Florida International's Elis Dieme-Erlich (20-5), but had only one legal jump to put up against her foes.
"I already knew it would be a tough field," said Johnson, who fouled her other five attempts. "The main thing was to try to qualify for the NCAA Regionals, and I did that.
"I wasn't too much worried. I had enough confidence to know I would make it to the finals. I just didn't know what would happen there. My last jump (a foul) was a big one."
Johnson will be among the top hopefuls in today's triple jump finals.
The top moment for the Cajun men occurred in the evening's final event, as senior Walter Whitfield dominated the 3,000-meter steeplechase from start to finish in a meet-record time of 9:02.63.
Whitfield, already an NCAA qualifier with a season best of 8:54.75, was ahead by 20 meters by the time he cleared the water jump for the first time and was virtually alone for the entire race.
"That's harder to do, because you have to do all the work of setting the pace," Whitfield said. "The first lap was a little too quick, but I wanted to establish the pace myself.
"I was pleased with my time. I wanted to win, and to try for the meet record."
The old mark was 9:03.18, set in 1997 by Arkansas State's Neal Anderson.
Whitfield's unmatched performance led UL to 17 points in the race, as teammate Ryan Dupre (9:33.28) placed fourth and Ben Schexnayder (9:55.14) came in seventh.
"I was ready to run," said Whitfield, who also marched in graduation ceremonies before coming to the Crescent City. "I'm not necessarily running great right now, but that will come around at the regionals and nationals."
OTHER CAJUN MEN - Derek Richardson (23-6) finished seventh in the long jump, Kyle Ward (14.20) and Luke Moody (14.32) reached the 110 hurdles finals, Louis Roquemore (53.78) advanced to the 400 hurdles finals, Jon-Erik Shanklin (47.64) is in the 400 finals, and Jarvis Murchison (10.64) reached the 100 finals.
OTHER CAJUN WOMEN - Lauryn Allgood (9-10) placed 8th in the pole vault, Jasmine Collins (2:15.67) is in the 800 finals, Laura Credeur (1:04.49) and Kim Glover (1:06.74) are in the 400 hurdles finals and Latoya Celestine (5-3) was the eighth-place performer in the high jump.
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<blockquote><p align=justify>Special day for ULL duo in Sun Belt
Whitfield, Octave receive diplomas, then spark Cajuns
NEW ORLEANS -- Louisiana schools are far off the pace after two days of the Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Tad Gormley Stadium, but a few Louisiana-Lafayette individuals distinguished themselves Saturday.
Most notably, Walter Whitfield, who had already qualified for the NCAA Regionals, ran away from the field to win the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase in a Sun Belt Championship-record time of 9 minutes, 2.63 seconds, and Kim Octave qualified for the regionals with a time of 13.88 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles.
Both arrived at the meet at about 3 p.m. after spending the morning in Lafayette receiving their diplomas at graduation.
"It was a special day for Kim and Walter," ULL coach Lance Veazey said. "It was important for them to be able to get their diplomas with their class because they've worked so hard for four years."
Fellow senior Clarissa Johnson qualified for the NCAA long jump with a distance of 19 feet, seven inches.
Two ULL hurdlers qualified for the 110-meter final. Kyle Ward, who had previously qualified for the NCAAs, had the third-fastest time (14.20 seconds) and Luke Moody (14.32) was fifth and qualified for the regionals.
The Arkansas State men are first with 62 points, defending champion and first-day leader Western Kentucky is second with 56, and Middle Tennessee State is third with 26. ULL jumped from seventh to fourth with 24 after the final event, the steeplechase, in which Whitfield's teammate Ryan Dupree finished fourth (9:33.28). New Orleans is eighth with four points.
"I thought it was my race to lose," Whitfield said. "I needed something to focus on so I focused on the meet record and it was good to get it. I hadn't run this event in about six weeks, so it was important to get back into it and use this as a steppingstone."
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The Florida International women are in first place with 53 points, Western Kentucky is second with 47, and North Texas is third with 45. UNO is eighth with 10 points and ULL 10th with five.
The first of the eight remaining field event finals gets under way at 10 a.m. today. The first of the remaining 20 running finals starts at 6 p.m.
Arkansas State had the top four finishers in the decathlon -- Craig Robinson (6,478 points), Matt Vining (6,385), B.J. Parish (5,892) and Brandon Banda (5,813).
Western Kentucky's Raigo Toompuu won the shot put with a conference and Sun Belt Championship-record distance of 60-10.75.
ULL's Jon Erik Franklin qualified with the fifth-fastest time in the 400 meters (47.64). Teammate Jarvis Murchison was the last qualifier (10.64) in the 100 meters.
UNO's Jameel Wilson qualified with the seventh-fastest time (1:54.63) in the 800 meters. The Ragin' Cajuns' Louis Roquemore qualified fourth in the 400-meter hurdles (53.87) and the Privateers' Antoine Chabanne qualified seventh (54.69). UNO's Robert Delmore (21.46) was the last qualifier in the 200 meters.
Johnson was sixth in the long jump (19-07.00). ULL and UNO each had a qualifier for the women's 100-meter hurdles. Octave had the third-fastest qualifying time, and the Privateers' Vicki Howard had the fourth-fastest (14.00).
"I feel like everything is coming together for me," Octave said. "I tried to stay focused at graduation. I enjoyed every minute of it. After that I got my mind focused on coming out here and running really fast."
UNO's Caroline Hulden qualified first in the 800 meters with a time of 2:14.75. ULL's Jasmine Collins qualified fourth (2:15.67). UNO's Angela Makaha had the sixth-fastest time (56.98) to qualify for the 400-meter final.
One Privateer and two Cajuns qualified in the 400-meter hurdles. UNO's Jasmine Flournay was fifth (1:04.74) and ULL's Laura Credeur ran sixth (1:04.93) and Kim Glover was eighth (1:06.74).
Special day for ULL duo in Sun Belt
Whitfield, Octave receive diplomas, then spark Cajuns
By LES EAST
Special to The Advocate
NEW ORLEANS -- Louisiana schools are far off the pace after two days of the Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Tad Gormley Stadium, but a few Louisiana-Lafayette individuals distinguished themselves Saturday.
Most notably, Walter Whitfield, who had already qualified for the NCAA Regionals, ran away from the field to win the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase in a Sun Belt Championship-record time of 9 minutes, 2.63 seconds, and Kim Octave qualified for the regionals with a time of 13.88 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles.
Both arrived at the meet at about 3 p.m. after spending the morning in Lafayette receiving their diplomas at graduation.
"It was a special day for Kim and Walter," ULL coach Lance Veazey said. "It was important for them to be able to get their diplomas with their class because they've worked so hard for four years."
Fellow senior Clarissa Johnson qualified for the NCAA long jump with a distance of 19 feet, seven inches.
Two ULL hurdlers qualified for the 110-meter final. Kyle Ward, who had previously qualified for the NCAAs, had the third-fastest time (14.20 seconds) and Luke Moody (14.32) was fifth and qualified for the regionals.
The Arkansas State men are first with 62 points, defending champion and first-day leader Western Kentucky is second with 56, and Middle Tennessee State is third with 26. ULL jumped from seventh to fourth with 24 after the final event, the steeplechase, in which Whitfield's teammate Ryan Dupree finished fourth (9:33.28). New Orleans is eighth with four points.
"I thought it was my race to lose," Whitfield said. "I needed something to focus on so I focused on the meet record and it was good to get it. I hadn't run this event in about six weeks, so it was important to get back into it and use this as a steppingstone."
The Florida International women are in first place with 53 points, Western Kentucky is second with 47, and North Texas is third with 45. UNO is eighth with 10 points and ULL 10th with five.
The first of the eight remaining field event finals gets under way at 10 a.m. today. The first of the remaining 20 running finals starts at 6 p.m.
Arkansas State had the top four finishers in the decathlon -- Craig Robinson (6,478 points), Matt Vining (6,385), B.J. Parish (5,892) and Brandon Banda (5,813).
Western Kentucky's Raigo Toompuu won the shot put with a conference and Sun Belt Championship-record distance of 60-10.75.
ULL's Jon Erik Franklin qualified with the fifth-fastest time in the 400 meters (47.64). Teammate Jarvis Murchison was the last qualifier (10.64) in the 100 meters.
UNO's Jameel Wilson qualified with the seventh-fastest time (1:54.63) in the 800 meters. The Ragin' Cajuns' Louis Roquemore qualified fourth in the 400-meter hurdles (53.87) and the Privateers' Antoine Chabanne qualified seventh (54.69). UNO's Robert Delmore (21.46) was the last qualifier in the 200 meters.
Johnson was sixth in the long jump (19-07.00). ULL and UNO each had a qualifier for the women's 100-meter hurdles. Octave had the third-fastest qualifying time, and the Privateers' Vicki Howard had the fourth-fastest (14.00).
"I feel like everything is coming together for me," Octave said. "I tried to stay focused at graduation. I enjoyed every minute of it. After that I got my mind focused on coming out here and running really fast."
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<BLOCKQUOTE><P ALIGN=JUSTIFY>She's got one of the best nicknames among Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns. And she has become one of the best hurdlers in UL track and field history.
Kimballee Octave - a.k.a. "Bubbles" - will settle into the starting blocks in Heat 4 of the women's 100-meter hurdles at 5 p.m. today at the NCAA MidEast Regional hosted by the University of Indiana.
The heat winners plus the next four best times advance to Saturday's finals as Octave attempts to extend a remarkable senior season.
It won't be easy, though. Her 13.88 qualifying time, earned in the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Championships in New Orleans, is matched or bettered by several in a select field.
The leading time of 12.99 is owned by Alabama's Beau Walker, with Kasia Williams of Arkansas next at 13.13. The best clocking in Octave's fourth heat is the 13.21 of Southern Mississippi's Raquel Washington.
"It is tough to run heats against time," Octave said. "I look at those other times, and oh my goodness. But it all boils down to who's best at that moment.
"I was not expecting my last race to go like it did. I was quickly reminded you never know how track and field is."
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That "last race" was the Sun Belt finals, which featured two hurdlers crashing and Octave getting thrown off stride and actually stopping to check on a fallen foe before remembering to finish the race.
"I just have to maximize that one moment I have," she said. "That's the approach I take."
Given the chaotic final, it was a good thing Octave qualified for NCAA action the previous day.
"To be honest with you, I didn't think my time was as good as it was," Octave said. "I had a slow start. It was horrible, it was so sluggish. I was actually looking forward to winning my heat.
"The best part of the race was hurdles 4 through 9. When I got to No. 10, I wanted to just get it over with. When I looked at the scoreboard, I was shocked to see how fast I went."
In addition to most of her Sun Belt foes, Octave has learned to overcome pre-race jitters going against the sport's best.
"I used to get nervous," she said. "Sometimes I still do. I get that queasiness in my stomach, or cottonmouth or my heart will be racing. It's so important for me to take a deep breath and calm down, because when I get nervous I start trying too hard and the race becomes a pure mess."
That deep breathing and relaxation idea has been in use since the Sun Belt meet for Octave.
"I've been resting my body as much as possible," Octave said. "I don't want to go to the NCAA sore and with aches and pains. I've really concentrated on short, explosive workouts the last two weeks. But, mostly, I've tried to rest."
Whatever the outcome, Bubbles is unlikely to be changed.
"My teammates gave me that name my freshman year," Octave said with a laugh. "We had more than one Kim on the team, and so someone said I was the bubbly one. I think it was Amanda Caffey who said, 'Let's call her Bubbles.' And the name really stuck with me.
"I remember one time I was running for an SGA office, and I even had to put Kim "Bubbles" Octave on the posters so people would know who I was."
With her personality and accomplishments, it's certain Kim Octave will be remembered.
Cajuns at NCAA Regionals
Members of Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns entered in NCAA MidEast Regional Track and Field competition hosted by Indiana University:
MEN
Kyle Ward, 110 Hurdles, 5:15 p.m., Friday*
Luke Moody, 110 Hurdles, 5:15 p.m., Friday*
Jarvis Murchison, 100, 6:15 p.m., Friday*
Walter Whitfield, 3000 Steeplechase, 7:30 p.m., Saturday
WOMEN
Kim Octave, 100 Hurdles, 5 p.m., Friday*
Clarissa Johnson, Long Jump, 6:10 p.m., Friday*
-Finals to be held Saturday. -->
<blockquote><p align=justify>Walter Whitfield really isn't worried.
That's not to say that the Louisiana Ragin' Cajun senior won't be in full-blown, pedal to the metal mode by the time the 3000-meter steeplechase begins today at the NCAA MidEast Regional meet at Indiana University.
It's just that he's ready for the outcome.
"I'll just try to enjoy it and have fun," Whitfield said. "The hay is in the barn, so to speak. My legs feel good, and I couldn't be more confident.
"I'm going to treat it like my last college race."
It shouldn't be. Whitfield is in the mix of better times in the event for regionals, which feature two heats against time.
Whitfield is one of four men and two women from UL who qualified for NCAA Regional action, and the only one who had to wait until today to compete.
Jarvis Murchison (100), Kyle Ward and Luke Moody (110 hurdles), Kim Octave (women's 100 hurdles) and Clarissa Johnson (women's long jump) all saw action in Friday's preliminaries.
Whitfield clocked a career-best 8:54.75 steeplechase time in March, then didn't run the event again until setting a Sun Belt Conference record of 9:02.63 on May 14, running virtually unchallenged.
Only Ian Wilkinson's 8:44.28 in 1983 is better than Whitfield's 8:54 in the Cajun record book.
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"Mentally, the Sun Belt meet helped me out," Whitfield said. "Physically it didn't really matter, but running a 9:02 by myself was good. Last year, 9:02 was fifth (at the NCAA national meet).
"All the running you've done before now is null and void. Whatever you've run, it doesn't mean you'll run that on Saturday. I hadn't run the steeplechase since the (March) meet at Stanford, and a lot of guys qualified (for NCAA competition) there."
Mississippi State's Travis McKay is the only runner in the first heat under 9 minutes (8:59.96), but there are plenty in Heat 2 including sub-8:50's Peter Kosgei of Arkansas (8:35.40), Ohio State's Aaron Fisher (8:45.98) and Eastern Illinois' Jacob Stout (8:49.37).
"I've run against some of them," Whitfield said. "I've kind of been watching the list develop over the season - where they ran, what other people did. I remember Fisher from last year. I watched him at regionals. Kosgei ran a 10K at Stanford. He definitely seems like the favorite.
"I'm as hungry as any of them. I've got to get out and run. You don't know the speed you'll need. An 8:40 should make it, but a 9:30 might make it. I need to make sure I run with them from the start."
The top five performers from each of four regionals will advance to the national meet, with some at-large entrants then considered.
"They took six at-large runners last year," Whitfield said. "There are nine guys in the West Regional who have run under 8:50. If some of those don't qualify, they may decide you're fast enough to come. I don't think an 8:54 will get in at-large.
"The first heat will determine how fast we have to go. I know McKay. He can run. They run at 7:30, so about 7:45, I'll know what I have to do."
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<blockquote><p align=justify>University of Louisiana hurdler Kyle Ward was selected as Newcomer of the Year and distance ace Walter Whitfield was named in two different events to the 2005 All-Louisiana Collegiate Track and Field Team.
Ward, a 6-foot-3 junior from Dallas, Texas, and a transfer from Alcorn State, was picked in voting for the team by a panel of La. Sports Writers Association members.
He was an NCAA Regional qualifier with a season-best time of 14.01 in the 110-meter hurdles, ranking him fifth on UL's all-time listing, and finished third at the Sun Belt Conference Championships.
Whitfield had the state's best time this season in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, posting an 8:54.75 time which ranked him second in school history. He won the Sun Belt outdoor title in the event with an NCAA Regional qualifying mark.
Whitfield, a senior from Chauvin, also ranked third in the state in the 5000-meter run with a 14:50.91 time.
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The All-Louisiana team consists of the top three marks in each event among state athletes. The top individual awards were voted by an LSWA panel.
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