Zachary Boys, St. Joseph's Girls Win Division 1 Team Titles At LSU

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Two of the nation's top pole vaulters won Louisiana state indoor championships Sunday at the LSU Fieldhouse in Baton Rouge.

Clayton Simms of Live Oak, a Kansas signee, cleared his highest bar of the year at 16-10.75 (5.15m). That was more than a foot higher than his winning mark in 2020. Simms already boasts the US#1 indoor mark of 17-4.75 (5.30m) from November in Austin, Texas.

And Heather Abadie of St. Michael the Archangel, a Texas A&M signee, cleared 13-5.50 (4.10m) to win her second indoor state title. She also finished third in the long jump.

Abadie ranks second nationally this indoor season with a 13-9 (4.19m) clearance Jan. 24 in College Station, Texas.

It was also a big day for Raven Nunnery of John Curtis Christian, who won Division 1 titles in the 60-meter dash (7.61) and the 400 (56.98). She also helped her team break the meet record in the 4x400 relay (3:56.86) and was part of a runner-up relay in the 4x200. 

Another standout was Orsciana Beard of Zachary, who won the long jump (18-8.75) and triple jump (39-8) and placed second in the 60-meter hurdles. 

Brandon Green of Ruston uncorked a jump of US#3 48-11.50 to win the triple jump and he also placed second in the long jump (22-1.25).

In the closest race of the day, St. Augustine edged Zachary in the boys 4x200 relay by .005 seconds -- 1:30.002 to 1:30.007.

Sophie Martin's wins in the 1,600 meters and 3,200 meters helped St. Joseph's secure the girls Division 1 team title. 

Kenson Tate's victory in the 60-meter dash (6.89) was part of Zachary's march to the boys team title. Teammate Chris Hilton, one of two high jumpers in the U.S. to clear 7 feet this winter, won the high jump with 6-6.25 and won the 400 in 50.71.

In the Division 2 meet, Parkview Baptist's Ariel Pedigo won the 60-meter hurdles (9.22), the high jump (5-6.50) and the long jump (18-8). And she was also second in the shot put (37-3.75).

Team Champions - RESULTS

Division 1 - Zachary boys 87 points, St. Joseph's (Baton Rouge) girls 76 points

Division 2 - Episcopal boys 69 points, St. Louis girls 83 points