By Chris Quebedeaux

SPORTS EDITOR

EUNICE – It may have just been a warmup meet, but Crowley High track and field coach Wesley Jacobs was pleased with his squad’s performance Friday evening at the Bobcat Relays.

“This was just a practice meet, but it was the first step,” said Jacobs, whose team will be competing this Friday at the Milburn Paxton Relays in Opelousas. “We wanted to go out there and get some times and now it is about us getting better each week.”

One of the biggest highlights of the meet was turned in by Keith Pierson who ran a 22.20 in the 200-meter dash and posted a mark of 41-4 in the triple jump, winning both events.

“Running a 22.20 this early in the season is pretty darn good,” said Jacobs. “But that adds more pressure because he has to get even better each week.”

Steven Boulet, who had surgery on a torn ACL just over three months ago, ran a 54.20 in the 400-meter run to win that event.

Also posting a victory was Aaron Vail, who won the shot put with a toss of 42.5 1/2.

The Gents were a few participants short in the opening meet due to the absence of athletes who didn’t complete their basketball season until last Tuesday. They are expected to join the team this week.

“For our first time out, I think we performed well,” said Jacobs. “We are missing a few key ingredients right now, but we should be alright as the season goes on.”

On the girls’ side, Crowley’s 4x200 meter relay team of Lavetta Chaisson, Keyiana Wilridge, Amber Stewart and Isis Broussard took top honors with a time of 1:32.58 and Shelbee Hoffpauir won the 800-meter run. Chaisson also won the high jump with a mark of 4-10 in her first-ever attempt at the event.

Stewart also claimed a second-place finish in the 400-meter run and Mandy Burke was third in the discus.

In other track and field action, Notre Dame’s Haley Gossen nabbed the Outstanding Track honors in helping lead the Lady Pios to a third-place showing at the Bulldog Relays in Cecilia.

Gossen claimed the honor by winning the 800-meter run (2:36.8) and the 3200-meter run (13:05.5).

The Lady Pios finished with 87 points behind meet champion Beau Chene (105) and runnersup Westminster (91).

In the field events, Mayme Cook scored a first place in the javelin (104-9) and Anne Catherine Venable was second in the high jump (4-10).

On the track, Celia Charles finished second in the 100-meter dash (13.4) while the 4x400-meter relay team of Lauren Meyer, Venable, Andree Comeaux and Alex Boulet was second (4:39.9).

Charles teamed with Mary Voitier, Caroline Cassedy and Jeanne Claire Robichaux to place third in the 4x100-meter relay (54.1).

On the boys’ side, the Pios placed fourth with 73 points behind Breaux Bridge (140), Cecilia (98) and Beau Chene (93).

Philip LeBlanc led all Pio scorers with a first-place toss of 182-10 in the javelin and a second- place throw of 117-10 in the discus. Kevin Johnston followed LeBlanc in the javelin, finishing second with a mark of 166-5.

Dusty Hoffpauir was second in the long jump (20-4 1/2); D.J. Welter placed third in the shot put (43-5) and Jantz Sloane was third in the 110-hurdles (16.4).

Notre Dame will be in action again Friday when they travel to Breaux Bridge to participate in the Crawfish Relays.