Nicholls track teams to be off and running to open outdoor season in Louisiana Classics

The Nicholls men’s and women’s teams will be off and running to open the outdoor track season when they take part in the Louisiana Classics track meet on Saturday in Lafayette to open the outdoor season.

The event comes only a couple of weeks following the conclusion of the indoor season. The outdoor season provides for a few events that differ from the indoor version, and some of the Nicholls participants will work in different events from the earlier season.

“It’s exciting, especially for our javelin throwers and discus throwers. That’s two events we don’t do indoors, so we’re excited to see where we’re at,” said Stefanie Slekis, coach of both the men’s and women’s programs at Nicholls. “Our hurdlers, we go from running the short hurdles, 60 meters to running the 100 and the 110 hurdles, and also the 400 hurdles. That’s kind of another exciting part of the outdoor season for us. Events change and that means we have some athletes that do some of those outdoor events that we don’t get to see them indoors.

“I’m excited to see where we’re at with that group this weekend. From there, we’re going to build over the next 10 weeks.”

The 10 will build up to the Southland Conference Championship scheduled for May 9-11 in Houston.

The initial of the outdoor season will provide first opportunities for athletes competing in events like the javelin and discus, plus also allowing some runners to compete at different distances.

“Excited for Jared Whitrack, who will be throwing the discus and then we have a group of five throwing the javelin, four of the ladies and one of the guys,” said Slekis.

“We’ll have a woman out there you haven’t seen compete indoor, Jaycee Fanguy. She threw the javelin in high school,” Slekis continued. “She’s a veteran and back in school and we’re going to see where she’s at.

“In the multis (among the women) we, Jinte (Braas), Cherie (Neal), and Amyia (Matthews).  Gavin (White, among the men) is running 400-meter hurdles. We’ll have a few of our hurdlers who will go up to from 60-meter hurdles to 100 meters and 110 meters to see what they can do with that.”

Considering the time of year, the Lafayette event can be a hit or miss proposition, according to Slekis.

“It’s just a good opener. We’ve had years there that we’re freezing and windy, which isn’t ideal at all for long jump for sprints, and even the distance races. The weather is looking pretty decent, so I’m pretty excited, actually,” the Nicholls coach said.

Other events the Nicholls track teams will take part in are the LSU Keyth Talley Invitational in Baton Rouge, the Southeastern Strawberry Relays in Hamond, and the J. Fred Duckett Twilight in Houston, before the SLC championships.

A few of the Nicholls track athletes such as distance runners Luke Futey and Sophia Harrison, along with multi-event athletes Braas, Neal, Matthews, and Andrea (Tirado) will splinter off and attend the Bobcat Invitational in San Marcos, Texas on March 28-30, instead of the LSU meet to gain experience early in the season in some events that they might not otherwise get to perform in earlier in the meet season.

“One of the things I am excited about early on Luke Futey and Sophia Harrison are going to go race a 10K and we’re going to send three of the multis to go a heptathlon,” said Slekis.

Futey is among those Slekis said could be poised for increased success in the outdoor season.

“I think Luke Futey is one that took a big chunk off his 5k and 3k (personal records) indoors,” the Nicholls coach said. “One of his big goals has been to score, which is to be top eight, so you’re looking at the 10K, it’s his best event, so can he get it done in the 10k?  That’s a big question.

“One of our things is he hasn’t really gotten to race a time trial in the 10k early in the year. He’s only ever raced the championship one, which is like a different style of racing. That’s why we’re sending him to Texas to see what he’s really capable of in an all-out race versus a tactical-championship style race. I think he’s also got a whole lot better at handling championship races at distance running.”

Others to look for among the men include Chris Tucker and Amari Godette.

“Chris Tucker, we’re always excited about him triple jumping,” said Slekis. “He scored indoor in the triple jump. Amari (Godette) was fourth in the 200 a couple of years ago, so obviously, he’s right off the final in the 60 every year. Amari gets better outdoor. He’s going to do some stuff for us in the 100 and 200, and hopefully, get him into a final.”

Among the women coming off a strong indoor season is distance runner Maria Nikolaou.

“I think Maria is pretty excited about what she did in the 1500. Obviously, her 800 was really good indoor,” Slekis noted

 Another performer expecting big things is jumper Sydney Brown.

“She’s in the same event outdoors, but we’ll just see if she can do even better in the triple jump, high jump after having a really good indoor season,” said Slekis.

Several of the members of the women’s team, Slekis said, are looking to make the medal stand when the SLC Championship comes along.

“We’re excited about the team we have,” said Slekis. “Yeah, they’re young but we’re pretty good to see what we can do at the championship.

“One thing we didn’t get indoor was a podium finish. I know Maria, that’s one of her big goals, and I know Cherie and Jinte, that’s been the goal too is to get on the podium. Hopefully, we get a podium finish outdoors.”