Senior Christina Sergi and junior Kim Prestenbach led the women’s outdoor track and field team by placing third and fourth respectively in the 5000-meter distance run this past weekend at the Louisiana State University Invitational in Baton Rouge. Sergi, who finished third, clocked in at 18:27.27, while Prestenbach, who finished fourth, recorded a time of 18:39.52.

“The highlight for us was definitely the 5000-meter run,” Agapius Amo, head track coach, said. “Kim had her best time ever. She did an excellent job. Christina also did a good job for us.”

Sergi’s teammate, Shannon Cox, said she was impressed with her finish during the event.

“I am very impressed with Christina,” Cox said. “She has impressed many people on the team. She has improved so much that I am so happy at the way she has performed. I hope she makes it to regionals because that’s her goal. I think she can do it, and with me and the rest of the team cheering, we can motivate her.”

Prestenbach said she was excited about Sergi’s third place finish and her fourth place finish.

“I am very excited about the finish,” Prestenbach said. “I felt we did really good, and we went out there and performed the best we could. The track was good for a long distance event. As far as me and Christina, we work together and not against each other.”

With both teams reaching the midway point of the season, Amo said he is pleased with the overall times from both teams.

“What I’ve been pleased with, with both our teams lately, is the way our times have been gradually improving,” Amo said. “We continue to get better from one week to the next.”

Freshman distance runner Jeff Draggich led the men with a seventh place finish in the 5000-meter run with a time of 15:39.29.

“I am satisfied because that is kind of what I wanted to do,” Draggich said. “I just wanted to break 16 seconds this weekend because this was my first 5000-meter run this season.”

Other finishers for the men included sophomore Cruz Adderley, who placed 43rd in the 100-meter run. Freshman Josh Chauvin finished 28th in the 800-meter run; freshman Shaun Ealey finished 31st in the 800-meter run and 39th in the 1500-meter run; sophomore Andre Ory finished 37th in the 1500-meter run; freshman Jason Authement finished 40th in the 1500-meter run; freshman Martin Leslie placed 21st in the 5000-meter run and 10th in the 3000-meter steeplechase; and Alex Bubniw placed 35th in the 110-meter hurdles.

With improvement in the 1500 and 800 meters, Ealey said he was impressed with his results.

“I did a very good job in the 1500, which actually broke my last week time by 22 seconds, which is very impressive,” Ealey said. “I actually broke my last week’s time by seven-tenths of a second in the 800, but I didn’t do well in it.”

Women’s finishers include freshman Lovetta Gibson, who placed 39th in the 100-meter dash. Freshman Henrietta Walker finished 20th in the 400-meter hurdles; junior Shannon Cox finished 21st in the 400-meter hurdles; freshman Jamie Johnson placed 32nd in the shotput; junior Lacy Picou placed 33rd in the shotput; and freshman Oneka Lewis placed 36th in the shotput.

Cox said she was pleased with her overall time, but thought she could have done better.

“I am really proud of the girls right now,” Cox said. “We just need to work hard, and we will be better. If you don’t get first, that doesn’t matter, just work to your advantage and get better for the next week.”

With both teams taking this weekend off before returning to Baton Rouge on April 9-10 to take part in the Pelican Relays, Amo said he hopes the team will start focusing on the Southland Conference track meet in San Marcos, Texas, on May 15-17.

“We will have an off weekend,” Amo said. “During our time off, we will try to improve on our times. Of course our ultimate focus is getting ready for conference, which starts at the end of April.