Justine Gerald's plan was to finish her Lafayette High School track and field career on a high note, then sign a scholarship with the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns and plan for the next few years of her life.

Most of that plan has been realized, as Gerald signed with the Ragin' Cajuns on Monday at the LHS library.

The big finish was derailed last Thursday when Gerald woke up with a virus that rendered her out of action for the District 2-5A Meet at Lafayette High, thus halting any plans for regional and state meet action.

"The whole weekend was so bad," said Gerald, a standout for the Lady Lions in the 800, 1600 and 3200 meter distances. "It was so depressing. It was really hard, but you get over it. It helped to know I was going to be signing today."

Gerald will accompany her LHS teammates when they travel to Natchitoches for the Region I-5A Meet, although she admitted it will be harder to be in the stands than on the track.

During the 2006 season, Gerald ranked among the best in the Acadiana area in 800 meters (2:29.95), 1600 (5:40.67) and 3200, and won all three events at the Lafayette Parish Meet.

"Running in college became a realistic goal probably since the parish meet," Gerald said. "I won three races, and I felt I really wanted to keep doing this. I don't want to stop running in high school."

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com