BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, April 24 — With a head-spinning array of dazzling marks, the annual LSU Alumni Gold meet turned out to be Continental Tour Platinum-worthy as a number of athletes in the speed events upended podium formcharts for the big meets coming up.
None more so, perhaps, than Noah Williams, who won the NCAA Indoor 400 title in a world-leading 44.71. Expectations ran high here for the LSU soph after his first two outdoor meets of the season produced half-lap clockings of 20.28w and 20.36 PR.
Williams, a 22-year-old New York native, started in lane 4, with Texas A&M’s Bryce Deadmon in 5. Deadmon had won the Texas Relays in a world-leading 44.62. Williams got out fastest, nearly making up the stagger on the Aggie in the first 100. Down the backstretch they battled, pulling steadily away from the field.
Williams passed his rival on the final turn and built a lead of about 4m, but Deadmon fought back, cutting the margin in half but Williams held on for the win in a world-leading 44.30 to the A&M star’s PR 44.58.
That wasn’t the only world leader on the day. The women’s 4 x 100 started the ball rolling with a tie in that department as LSU clocked 42.70 to beat an all-star Tiger Olympians crew that ran 43.05.
Then JuVaughn Harrison, an NCAA Indoor HJ/LJ doubler, concentrated on the long jump. Already the overall world leader with his indoor 27-8¾ (8.45), he nailed a 27-8¼ (8.44) on his fourth leap to claim the outdoor lead as well.
Making his outdoor debut was local hero Mondo Duplantis. Vaulting into the wind, he recorded an outdoor WL with his 19-4¼ (5.90). He took one attempt at 19-8¼ (6.00) before calling it quits. Then, reportedly unsatisfied with his day, he convinced officials to move to the southbound pit so he could take an exhibition leap with the wind at his back. They did, and he easily cleared his 19-8¼.
Yet it was on the track that the talent-heavy Tiger squad kept putting on a show. Sean Burrell, better known as a 400 prospect, continued his foray into the long hurdles with a performance that made hurdle technical fans cringe and future opponents worry. Running from lane 3, leading with only his left leg, nailing hurdles all the way — he reportedly broke the second barrier — the 19-year-old frosh clawed his way to a 49.12 in just his fourth race ever, moving to No. 10 on the all-time U.S. Junior list.
Burrell, holder of the national age-15 record in the flat 400, anchored the 4×4 at the end of the day, showing he has lost none of his speed on the flat, his 44.24 punctuating LSU’s 3:01.85 win over Texas A&M (3:03.86).
Tonea Marshall of the home team topped Tara Davis of Texas in the hurdles. With the wind blowing at 2.6, she flew to an all-conditions collegiate leader of 12.53 with Davis close at 12.61.
Another Bengal star, Terrance Laird, had the wind at his back, 2.4mps of it, as he ripped a 19.82 in the 200 to become the No. 7 collegian ever in all conditions.
LSU alum Aleia Hobbs put on a show of form in winning the 100 in 10.91 (0.7 wind). In second was Alabama’s Tamara Clark with a collegiate leader 10.96; she moved into a tie for the No. 7 collegian ever.
Auburn’s Kylee Carter heaved a big 199-1 (60.69) in the javelin, an American collegiate leader that made her the No. 8 U.S. thrower of all-time, and No. 6 collegian.
Alabama’s Roger Dunning beat LSU’s Damion Thomas over the men’s highs, 13.28–13.37. The winning mark tied the collegiate leader.
LSU ALUMNI GOLD MEN’S RESULTS
100(-0.4): 1. Andrew Hudson (EmpA) 10.17; 2. Bismark Boateng’ (Can) 10.23; 3. **Dante Brown (Aub) 10.27; 4. CJ Ujah’ (GB) 10.31.
OD 200(1.7): 1. Hudson 20.29; 2. Vernon Norwood (NBal) 20.30 PR; 3. EJ Floréal’ (Can) 20.46.
200: I(2.4)–1. *Terrance Laird (LSU) 19.82w (a-c: x, 7 C; x, 4 AmC);
2. *Micaiah Harris (Tx) 20.08w; 3. ***Devon Achane (TxAM) 20.52w; 4. ***Kamden Jackson (Bay) 20.65w.
II(1.8)–1. **Amir Willis (Akron) 20.69 PR.
400: I–1. **Noah Williams (LSU) 44.30 PR (WL, AL, CL) (12, x C; 9, x AmC);
2. Bryce Deadmon (TxAM) 44.58 PR; 3. *Howard Fields (Bay) 45.37 PR; 4. Tyler Terry (LSU) 46.07; 5. Devin Dixon (TxAM) 46.18.
II–1. *Jon Maas (Tx) 46.14 =PR.
III–1. *Willington Wright (Tx) 45.93 PR.
OD 400: 1. Norwood 45.17.
110H(1.9): 1. Robert Dunning (Al) 13.28 (=AmCL);
2. *Damion Thomas’ (LSU-Jam) 13.37; 3. **Eric Edwards (LSU) 13.46.
400H: 1. ***Sean Burrell (LSU) 49.12 PR (CL) (10, x AJ);
2. *Moitalel Mpoke’ (TxAM-SA) 49.61 PR; 3. Quincy Downing (unat) 50.08; 4. Malik Metivier’ (Aub-Can) 50.35; 5. Dunning 50.45; 6. *Charles Brockman (Tx) 50.93.
4 x 100: 1. Canada 38.49 (Boateng, Blake, Floréal, Brown); 2. LSU 38.58 (Peebles, Williams, Camel, Laird); 3. Texas A&M 39.54; 4. Texas 39.76.
4 x 400: 1. LSU 3:01.85 (Camel 45.65, Williams 46.19, Terry 45.77, Burrell 44.24); 2. Texas A&M 3:03.86 (Mpoke, Miller, Dixon, Deadmon 44.87); 3. Baylor 3:06.73.
Field Events
HJ: 1. *Nuh Andu’ (Akron-Qat) 7-1¾ (2.18).
PV: 1. Mondo Duplantis’ (Swe) 19-4¼ (5.90) (out WL) (17-11, 18-4½, 19-¼, 19-4¼ [2], 19-8¼ [xpp]) (5.46, 5.60, 5.80, 5.90 [2], 6.00 [xpp]).
LJ: 1. *JuVaughn Harrison (LSU) 27-8¼ (8.44) out PR (out WL, AL, CL) (26-9w, 26-10, 26-0, 27-8¼, p, p) (8.15w, 8.18, 7.92, 8.44, p, p);
2. Rayvon Grey (LSU) 26-10½w (8.19) (25-4¾/7.74); 3. Steffin McCarter (Tx) 25-11½ (7.91).
TJ: 1. ***Sean Dixon-Bodie (LSU) 53-7¾ (16.35) PR.
SP: 1. *Santiago Basso’ (Al-Chl) 62-6¾ (19.07) PR; 2. ***Adam Strouf (Aub) 60-11¼ (18.57) PR; 3. **Nicholas Hardan (Bay) 60-8½ (18.50).
HT(4/23): 1. Johnnie Jackson (unat) 237-2 (72.28) PR; 2. *Jake Norris’ (LSU-GB) 231-4 (70.53); 3. Jon Nerdal’ (LSU-Nor) 230-9 (70.35); 4. Kieran McKeag (Al) 223-5 (68.10); 5. **Bobby Colantonio (Al) 217-0 (66.14).
JT: 1. Nils Fischer’ (Aub-Ger) 243-9 (74.30); 2. ***Tzuriel Pedigo (LSU) 239-10 (73.10); 3. ***Sam Hankins (TxAM) 230-1 (70.13) PR.
LSU ALUMNI GOLD WOMEN’S RESULTS
100(0.7): 1. Aleia Hobbs (adi) 10.91;
2. *Tamara Clark (Al) 10.96 PR (CL) (=7, =12 C; =6, =11 AmC);
3. Mikiah Brisco (Nik) 11.02; 4. *Symone Mason (LSU) 11.02 PR; 5. Kristina Knott’ (Phi) 11.28; 6. Khamica Bingham’ (Can) 11.31; 7. Shannon Ray (EmpA) 11.38 PR.
200: I(0.6)–1. **Kynnedy Flannel (Tx) 22.75; 2. ***Kevona Davis’ (Tx-Jam) 23.15; 3. ***Thelma Davies (LSU) 23.29.
II(1.8)–1. Kristina Knott’ (Phi) 23.17; 2. Karimah Davis (unat) 23.30.
OD 200(2.0): 1. Tamari Davis (adi) 22.82; 2. Crystal Emmanuel’ (Can) 23.03.
400: 1. ***Charokee Young’ (TxAM-Jam) 51.49 PR; 2. ***Favour Ofili’ (LSU-Ngr) 51.49 PR; 3. Natassha McDonald’ (Al-Can) 51.94; 4. ***Amber Anning’ (LSU-GB) 51.97 PR; 5. **Tierra Robinson-Jones (TxAM) 52.86; 6. **Christal Mosley (Al) 52.98 PR; 7. **Tianna Holmes (NM) 53.00 PR.
OD 400: 1. Chrisann Gordon-Powell’ (Jam) 50.84; 2. Maggie Barrie’ (SL) 51.92; 3. Zoe Sherar’ (Can) 52.63; 4. Alica Brown’ (Can) 52.79.
800: 1. *Presley Weems (Aub) 2:03.90 PR; 2. **Katy-Ann McDonald’ (LSU-GB) 2:05.74.
100H(2.6): 1. Tonea Marshall (LSU) 12.53w (a-c CL) (a-c: 9, =11 C; 7, 9 AmC);
2. **Tara Davis (Tx) 12.61w; 3. *Milan Young (LSU) 13.03w; 4. *Tyra Gittens’ (TxAM-Tri) 13.26w.
II(0.9)–1. ***Ackera Nugent’ (Bay-Jam) 12.87 PR; 2. ***Emelia Chatfield (Tx) 13.18 PR; 3. Brittley Humphrey (LSU) 13.19.
400H: 1. Cassandra Tate (adi) 56.82; 2. *Milan Young (LSU) 57.09; 3. *Jurnee Woodward (LSU) 57.26; 4. Brittley Humphrey (LSU) 58.16; 5. Eriana Henderson (Co) 58.75.
II–1. ***Dominique Mustin (TxAM) 57.52 PR; 2. ***Brooke Jaworski (Tx) 58.43; 3. **Tylar Colbert (Aub) 58.64 PR; 4. ***Leah Phillips (LSU) 58.92.
4 x 100: 1. LSU 42.70 (=WL; CL) (Marshall, Ofili’, Mason, Davies);
2. Tiger Olympians 43.05 (Brisco, Hobbs, Martin, Payne); 3. Texas 43.11 (Douglas, Davis’, Adeleke’, Flannel); 4. Alabama 44.06; 5. Canada 44.06; 6. Baylor 44.97.
4 x 400: 1. Texas A&M 3:27.16 (Robinson-Jones 51.16, Young’ 53.00, Reed 53.13, Mu 49.87); 2. LSU 3:29.01 (Mason, Anning’, Young, Ofili’ 51.59); 3. Texas 3:29.85 (Douglas, Simon, Adeleke, Williams’ 51.25); 4. Alabama 3:31.33; 5. Canada 3:33.13; 6. Baylor 3:35.65.
Field Events
HJ: 1. *Abigail O’Donoghue (LSU) 5-10¾ (1.80); 2. ***Nyagoa Bayak (LSU) 5-10¾ =PR.
PV: 1. *Lisa Gunnarsson’ (LSU-Swe) 14-5½ (4.41); 2. *Tuesdi Tidwell (Bay) 13-11¾ (4.26).
LJ: 1. *Deborah Acquah’ (TxAM-Gha) 22-4¼ (6.81) NR (22-2¼w, 22-1¾, 22-4¼, p, f, f) (6.76w, 6.75, 6.81, p, f, f); 2. Mercy Abire’ (LSU-Ngr) 20-11¾ (6.39); 3. Taryn Milton (TxAM) 20-6½w (6.26).
TJ: 1. Lynnika Pitts (unat) 44-7½ (13.60); 2. **Lamara Distin’ (TxAM-Jam) 43-5¼ (13.24); 3. Ciynamon Stevenson (TxAM) 42-6¾ (12.97); 4. *Sophia Falco (Tx) 42-2¼ (12.86).
SP: 1. Portious Warren’ (Tri) 59-5½ (18.12); 2. Elena Bruckner (Tx) 55-11 (17.04); 3. *Taylor Gorum (Al) 54-10 (16.71) PR; 4. *Cherisse Murray’ (Al-Tri) 54-1¾ (16.50) PR; 5. Nickolette Dunbar (Al) 53-8½ (16.37); 6. ***Jocelynn Budwig (Aub) 51-11¼ (15.83).
DT: 1. ***Mikayla Deshazer (Bay) 174-2 (53.09); 2. ***Maura Huwalt (Aub) 171-7 (52.30) PR.
HT: 1. ***Monique Hardy (LSU) 214-11 (65.52) PR; 2. ***Emma Robbins (LSU) 214-7 (65.40); 3. **Madi Malone (Aub) 210-4 (64.13); 4. ***Samantha Kunza (Al) 205-8 (62.69) PR; 5. *Taylor Gorum (Al) 199-2 (60.72).
JT: 1. Kylee Carter (Aub) 199-1 (60.69) PR (AmCL) (8, x A; 6, 9 C; 5, 6 AmC);
2. *Rhiley Fritz (Tx) 173-9 (52.96) PR; 3. *Ashley Carter (Aub) 165-4 (50.41); 4. *Gabby Kearney (Tx) 157-11 (48.15); 5. *Keira McCarrell’ (Aub-Can) 156-8 (47.77).