Track & Field
Men's Track and Field - Including Sprinters Rush, Shackleford and Williams - To Compete in Louisiana Classics
Hole in schedule filled earlier this week, giving the men's squad an opportunity to build upon their early season success
 

 

  
 

March 15, 2013

NEW ORLEANS - Following a week in which both the men's and women's track and field teams competed in Lake Charles, La., the men's squad will head west again, as they will take part in the Louisiana Classics meet hosted by Louisiana-Lafayette at the Cajuns Track Facility on Saturday.

Tulane originally had an open weekend, but opted to compete instead of staying home for the weekend.

"What we decided was that after our team got off to a good start at the Tulane Team Challenge, we wanted to give our men's team as many opportunities to compete as possible, especially since they don't compete indoors," said Tulane director of track and field Eric Peterson. "This is a chance for our team, which is still pretty young, to continue to work on things that they are trying to improve in."

Sophomore Thomas Lynch will look to surpass his career best - and school record - that he set in the discus throw last weekend at the Bob Hayes Cowboy Relays. The Washington D.C. native tossed the discus 50.60 meters (166' 0"), breaking the record of 48.76 meters (159' 11") set in 1967 by Millard White and tied by Nathan Junius in 2000.

"I'm proud of Thomas," added Peterson. "We want to blow all of the records away. It's nice to see the work that he and coach (Gary) England are doing together and that it is paying off. It's motivating him to work even harder."

With spring football wrapping up last weekend, the men's track and field program will gain the abilities of speedster sophomores Xavier Rush and Justyn Shackleford, who also play wide receiver for the Green Wave football squad. Rush and former Green Wave football star Albert Williams will run in the 100 meter dash, while Shackleford will run individually in the 400 meter hurdles. He will also team up with junior Christopher Arechiga, senior Jon Frano and freshman John Mouton during the 4 x 400 meter relay. Arechiga, Frano and Mouton will all run in the individual 400 meter dash, as well.

 

 

"We are ready to incorporate our football guys back into our team now that they are done with spring football," said Peterson. "Justyn Shackleford was an All-Conference scorer for us in the 400 meter hurdles last year. Albert Williams and Xavier Rush will compete in the 100 meters, so what you'll begin to see the pieces we have to build a 4 x 100 relay team and our 4 x 400 relay team."

Redshirt senior Brian Lozes and freshman Nicholas Meloro will take part in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, marking the first time the men will compete in the event on the season. Both took part in an abbreviated version of the event - the 2,000 meter steeplechase - during the Tulane Team Challenge two weeks ago.

Also competing this weekend are freshman Adam Yohanan (1,500 meter), freshman Jack White (1,500 meter) freshman Jonathan Heil (800 meter) and sophomore Geoffery Zelek (5,000 meter).

Live stats will be made available at ragincajuns.com.

Next weekend, the track and field team will split to compete in both the LSU Relays and the Alabama relays.

You can follow the Tulane track and field programs on Twitter (@GreenWaveXCTF) or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TulaneXCTF.

TULANE ENTRIES FOR THE LOUISIANA CLASSICS

Men's 100m Dash
Xavier Rush
Albert Williams

Men's 400m Dash
Christopher Arechiga
Jon Frano
John Mouton

Men's 800m Run
Jonathan Heil

Men's 1,500m Run
Adam Yohanan
Jack White

Men's 5,000m Run
Geoffery Zelek

Men's 400m Hurdles
Justyn Shackleford

Men's 3,000m Steeplechase
Brian Lozes
Nicholas Meloro

Men's 4 x 400m Relay
Tulane (Arechiga,Frano,Shackleford,Mouton)

Men's Discus Throw
Thomas Lynch

Shop

Tulane Gear

at the

Official Online Store

      <
      >