Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Oscar Smith came into the NCAA East Regional looking to make the NCAA Championships for the first time in his third attempt. The senior hurdler set PRs on both days to accomplish that feat at the Visit Jax Field at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.
Two days after qualifying with the top overall spot in the 110m hurdles, Smith won his heat and finished third overall to qualify for the semifinals in Eugene, Oregon, on June 11. After setting a personal best of 13.52 on Wednesday, he improved his time to 13.42.
Smith is the second Bulldog to reach the NCAA Championship under head coach Brian Johnson. He is the first Bulldog since Yusuf Muhammad to qualify in the hurdles since 2014 and the first male in the short hurdles since Monroe Ford in 1977.
“I am proud of this men’s group,” said Johnson. “We fought hard this year and made tremendous progress in the program. I am looking forward to continuing this journey with Oscar, who has qualified for nationals. He has the potential to make it to the finals.”
To end the Friday, Tim Rummelhagen, Sabastian Bradley-Reed, Cullen Hronek and Valentino Rudolph combined to run a 3:09.15.
The Louisiana Tech women’s track and field team ended their record book season at the NCAA East Regional as well.
The Bulldogs recorded 17 marks inside the top 10 in program history in various events throughout the season.
Jamara Patterson and Osaretin Joy Usenbor nearly rewrote the 400m list with their combined seven marks. They would add four more in the 4×400, including the Conference USA Outdoor Championship record in the relay.
Patterson finished her season with her fourth mark in the 400m. The sophomore would finish at 52.93 for the ninth fastest time in program history. Usenbor almost had her fourth mark at 53.01, sitting just outside the performance list.
The duo combined with Nia Wiley and Jenaia Williams in the relay. The team finished the evening with a 3:35.03.
Kaitlyn Washington opened the day in the discus and finished her first season as a Bulldog with a throw of 39.73m (130-4) in the discus. A’reil Williams ended her second trip to the regional with a height of 1.69m in the high jump.
“I am beyond grateful to have these ladies on my team,” said Johnson. “We fought hard this weekend, and I know that we will get back here and get to Nationals.”
