BEAUMONT, Texas - Lamar University's track and field teams had stellar indoor campaigns to open their 2023 season. Now, the tide shifts to the outdoors and the Cardinals set out for a two-day trip to Lafayette, La., for the Ragin Cajun Invitational hosted by Louisiana-Lafayette.

At the Southland Conference Indoor Championship meets, LU produced four conference titles with Parl Eelma (Penthatlon; 4081 points), Kenson Tate (Long Jump; 7.53m (24'8.50")), Yasmin Austridge (800m; 2:15.67) and the women's DMR team of Austridge, Nia Clatworthy, Jillian Howard, Faith Outing (11:42.33). They also recorded 18 top-10 marks in school history, broke two school records with Eelma and Glennis Woolridge in the weight throw (15.87m-52'0.75") while having four runner ups in Austridge (3000m; 9:56.79), Clatworthy (5000m; 17:15.38); Eelma (Long Jump; 5.82m-19'1.25") and Faith Outing (400m; 55.14). The women's team ultimately finished in second place while the men took eighth place overall.

In addition to their performances in the indoor title meet, they also had members honored with all-conference honors. Along with two third team awards in the 4x400m and 400m, Cameron Chin was selected as Freshman of the Year. Parl Eelma was named first team (pentathlon), second team (long jump), and third team (60m hurdles) while Yasmin Austridge earned two first team honors (800m, DMR) and one second team (3000m).

Other first teamers included Kenson Tate (long jump), who along with Chin, Jaylon Roberts, and Trent Guidry earned third team in the 4x400m, and Austridge's DMR teammates of Nia Clatworthy, Jillian Howard, and Faith Outing. Clatworthy and Outing would also be second teamers in the 5000m and 400m events respectively. Another third teamer was Jaccarius Demmerritte, who earned the honor in the triple jump.

In last year's Ragin Cajun Invitational, the Cardinals won two events from Tate, who leapt 7.26m (23'82") in the long jump while Outing clocked in a first place finish of 56.15 seconds in the women's 400m. Jaylon Roberts claimed third in the men's 400m at 47.73, which is still his personal best time. All of the distance relay teams in the meet would have top 10 finishes.
 

The meet will start this Friday and will progress into Saturday.

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