Local athletes shine at state track meet

By Bruce Brown
Special to the Meridional

Vermilion Parish track and field athletes started the weekend off on a high note at the LHSAA State Meet at LSU's Bernie Moore Stadium, with a pair of titles in Friday's Class A competition.
The task got a bit harder in Class 3A on Saturday, but that didn't keep parish standouts from visiting the awards’ stand.
Kaplan's multi-sport star Jalen Bates had the top throw entering the boys discus with a 138-10 posted at regional, and he improved on that with a 142-6 effort on his fifth attempt in Saturday's finals.
But that wasn't enough to overcome repeat champion Floyd Foster of Donaldsonville (159-1).
“I've thrown 147 this year, and in practice this week I threw 155,” Bates said. “It's tough because I didn't perform the way I wanted to. I'm disappointed, especially since I came in with the No. 1 throw.”
Also placing second was Erath's Tate Terrebonne in the pole vault at 14-0, topped only by the 14-6 of St. Louis's Landon Doré and ahead of third-place rival Kaleb Derouen of North Vermilion (13-6).
NVHS's Dominic Governale took an early lead in the javelin with a 184-9 throw, but was then topped by Notre Dame's Hayden Bourgeois (191-10). Governale had been third the last two years before placing second on Saturday.
Sometimes, success can come in the face of disappointment.
Abbeville's Arrayia Starland saw her 4x200 relay team disqualified, but she bounced back with a third-place 58.56 in the 400.
“My strategy was to go all-out, sprint the whole thing,” Starland said. “I kind of like this race. It was tough as a team this year, but good to finish well as a senior.”
Sometimes, success ignores pain.
Kaplan's Kendra Gums injured a knee in the high jump, but ran on the KHS 4x100 relay and gritted out a runner-up 37-5.5 in the triple jump.
“It bothered me a little bit,” Gums said. “I performed well. I think I could have done better.”
Sometimes success is shared.
Returning girls pole vault champion Sara Watson of Erath tied for second with Church Point's Lauren Sonnier at 9-6, the same height attained by Iowa's Tabitha Seiford.
Also for Erath, Lindsey Darby was third in the triple jump (36-8.25) and the 4x100 relay of Monette Bolden, Darby, Alexis Dorsey and Ali Bourque was third in 50.20.
North Vermilion senior Lunden Graham, meanwhile, lost for the first time this season in the 800 to Lusher's Aislin Roberts, 2:26.52 to 2:27.33 in a classic.
“I've been undefeated, and when I get the lead I run to win,” Graham said. “I knew Aislin would run, and I tried to go with her.”
Graham later joined Morgan Harrington, Blayne Parfait and Elise Vincent on a runner-up 4x400 relay (4:09.63), while NV's Claire Meyers was third in the javelin (118-10).
On Friday, Vermilion Catholic notched two victories from Andre Girouard in the boys javelin (172-1) and VC teammate Bailey Broussard in the girls pole vault (11 feet).
“My first meet of the year I threw 161, then slumped all season until I threw a 166 in regionals,” Girouard said. “I decided to relax and not think too much, just let it rip. I've put a lot more work into it this year. I'm a lot faster in my run-up.”
Girouard's winning throw came on his third attempt of the day.
There was no threat of a slump – or let-up – from Broussard. In fact, after winning her regional with a 9-foot clearance, she soared 2 feet beyond that on the biggest stage in the state.
Also making the victory stand for VC was Braxton Cessac, third in the shot put.