Parish athletes do well as state meet on Saturday

BATON ROUGE – When you’re on the biggest stage in your sport, it’s time to stash away any self doubt and trust your training.
That’s what Erath’s Troynae Walker did in Saturday action at the LHSAA State Track Meet at LSU’s Bernie Moore Stadium, high-stepping her way to a victorious 14.92 time in the 100 meter hurdles.
“Was I confident? Sort of,” Walker said. “I still get nervous, but I tone it out and focus on the race.”
Walker added a fourth-place 47.92 in the 300 hurdles, helping the Lady Bobcats to 40 points and fifth place in Class 3A team scoring.
Teammate Monette Bolden also won, as her 17-7.75 bested all foes in the long jump.
“I equaled my personal best, and on my first jump,” said Bolden, who anchored Ali Bourque, Lindsay Darby and Brooklyn Babineaux to a season-best 49.98 third place in the 4x100 relay.
With Darby’s third (triple jump) and fourth (100), EHS got production from a small group.
Kaplan placed seventh behind sophomore pole vault winner Sidney Dartez (11-0) and Kendra Gums, first in the triple jump (37-7.5) and fourth in the long jump.
“I had a lot of adrenalin going, since this is my first time here,” Dartez said. “I’ve had to build up to 11 feet.”
North Vermilion’s Kaitlyn Theriot (300 hurdles) and Claire Meyers (javelin) were both third.
In Class 4A, Abbeville sophomore Annemarie Broussard rebounded from a regional mishap to place third in the pole vault at 10-6. She had false started in the 100 hurdles at regional but battled back to reach state in the 300 hurdles and pole vault.
“It was hard,” she said. “I was really down after the false start, but family and friends helped me through it. And the memory of Taylor Harrington, a friend who committed suicide. I get most of my strength from him.”
The only Vermilion Parish boys victor on Saturday was North Vermilion pole vaulter Kaleb Derouen, at 13-6 to rule 3A.
“I was third here to a teammate last year,” said Derouen, who has a personal best clearance of 15 feet. “I wanted to try to get better, and I knew I would if I worked hard.
“I wanted to go higher today, but I couldn’t get my steps down all day. I had to short-run the 13-6.”

Vermilion Parish on the Victory Stand

Class 3A
Boys
North Vermilion
Kaleb Derouen, 1st, pole vault, 13-6; Caleb Castro, 3rd, Javelin, 169-3.
Erath
Ethan Suire, 3rd, 1600, 4:37.41.
Girls
Erath (40 points, 5th)

Troynae Walker, 1st, 100 hurdles, 14.92); Monette Bolden, 1st, long jump,17-7.75; Lindsay Darby, 3rd, triple jump, 35-6; 4x100 Relay (Ali Bourque, Darby, Brooklyn Babineaux, Bolden), 3rd, 49.98.

Kaplan (31 points, 7th)
Kendra Gums, 1st, triple jump,, 37-7.5; Sidney Darby, 1st, pole vault, 11-0.
North Vermilion
Kaitlyn Theriot, 3rd, 300 hurdles, 47.85; Claire Meyers, 3rd, javelin, 124-4.

Class 4A
Boys
Abbeville
Coy Darby, 3rd, high jump, 6-4.
Girls
Abbeville
Annemarie Broussard, 3rd, pole vault, 10-6.