Colonel shotputter Donnie Ourso took first place at both the McNeese and Tulane individual track meets Dec. 2 and 9 as the Nicholls track team kicked off its indoor season.
Ourso threw 52 ft. at the Tulane meet and 50 ft. 7 in. at McNeese, but will be sidelined for the Colonels next two meets due to recent neck surgery.
“The loss of Ourso is going to be big,” Colonel track coach Matt Pantusa said. “I’m looking for other members of the team to step up and contribute in his absence during the next couple of meets.”
Along with Ourso, the Colonels took five other first place marks at the Tulane meet.
Stephan Crothers won the pole vault for the Colonels after he cleared 13 ft. 6 in.
Mikael Larsson, who was voted as Nicholls men’s Cross Country Runner of the Year in the fall, was the winner in the 800-meter dash when he posted a time of 1:57.80.
In the 400-meter dash, Jamaal James’ time of 48.65 was a second faster than runner up Leon Stewart from Southern University at Baton Rouge.
James was also on the 4X400-meter relay team which posted victory over Southern and Tulane, as the Colonels finished the race with a time of 3:23.69.
Farren Clark, Mike Luke and Troy Alvorado accompanied James on the team.
Last track season, Pantusa rotated different players into his 4X400 relay team, but this season Pantusa is will stay with a solid four throughout the season.
“Last year I was always trying to find the perfect combination of runners for the relay,” Pantusa said. “This year I’m looking at only about six, and I look to settle on my decision early so we can prepare for the conference meet.”
Clark also competed in the mile run, and crossed the finish line four seconds behind Tulane’s Meshack Muhupi for the top honor.
Daryl Hamilton was the only other Colonel besides Ourso that had a first place showing at the McNeese meet.
Hamilton took first in the long jump as his leap of 22 ft. 9 in. was a foot better than second place competitor Joey Webb from Grambling State University.
The Lady Colonels also had a strong showing at Tulane. Shayann Crabtree placed first in the long jump and finished second in the triple jump. Crabtree’s long jump measured 17 ft., while her triple jump was recorded at 35 ft. 1 in.
Shelly Meaux managed to post a first place finish at Tulane in the shot put competition for the Lady Colonels, as she had a throw of 34 ft. 3 in.
Johanna Sjogren took first in the 3000-meter run at 11:54 to round out the first place scoring for the Lady Colonels.
The Colonel track team will next be in action when it travels to Lake Charles for the Jeff Bank Invite on Jan. 20.