Thanks to outstanding performances from junior decathlete and triple jumper Andras Farkas and sophomore distance runner Cassie Jones, the men and women’s outdoor track and field teams kicked off the first outdoor meet of the season with eye-raising performances.
Farkas, a native of Debrecen, Hungary, highlighted the overall performance of the track teams by placing first in the triple jump, eighth in the javelin and 13th in the shot put competition.
With a jump of 1 foot 4.25 inches, Farkas qualified to compete in the NCAA Regional meet in Columbus, Ohio on May 30-31, 2003. He also broke the school record set by Chad Phillips four seasons ago.
“It was a good meet. We are happy about qualifying for the regional meet. I hope that the rest of the semester will be even better,” Farkas said.
“Andras had a great day in setting two new personal best. His third jump in the triple jump was the best he ever jumped,” Matt Pantusa, head track coach, said.
“When we iron out the kinks in his approach and initial jump, I feel he may go over four more feet.”
Jones, a native of Montpelier, Ind., placed third with a time of 10:38.28 in the 3,000 meter run.
With that time, Jones now owns team records in the 3,000; 5,000 and 10,000-meter runs. She also broke the school record set by Isabelle Yanire in 1997.
“She had a goal at the start of the race to lower the Nicholls school record in that race and become the first woman in Nicholls’ history to run faster that 10 minutes and 40 seconds over seven and a half laps,” Pantusa said.
“She is an extremely dedicated athlete who works hard at all aspects of her training.”
Junior long sprinter Caroline Hulden also made her presence felt by placing second in the 800-meter dash with a time of 2:16.10. Hulden also placed 16th in the 200-meter dash with a time of 27.01.
“For the first meet of the year, it was good to go and do the times that I did. I hope the women and the men win this weekend,” Hulden said.
The men’s 400-meter relay team of sophomores Ravanno Ferguson, Jason Grubb, Cruz Adderley and freshman Harold Enclarde finished sixth with a time of 42.93.
Adderley, Ferguson and sophomores Tyson Brown and Chris Montgomery placed seventh in the 1600-meter relay with a time of 3:21.9.
Brown placed seventh in the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.55, sophomore Cory Chaisson placed eighth with a time of 49.91 and Chris Montgomery placed 10th with a time of 50.40.
“I felt we could have done much better. After running two or three races on that date, I felt like we could have done better,” Brown said.
“I don’t know about the other guys, but I feel we are going to improve throughout the rest of the season.”
Junior Tex Martin placed 10th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with an overall time of 10:42.43. Senior Milton Cayette placed 17th in the shot put with a toss of 37 feet nine inches.
In the discus throw, Cayette placed 12th with a toss of 121 feet and 4 inches, while freshman Clint Hill placed 16th with a toss of 112 feet 4 inches.
The track team will travel to New Orleans this weekend to take part in the University of New Orleans Invitational.