Apr. 19, 2004

BATON ROUGE, La. - Freshman Rowan Baird won the women's 1,500 meters and sophomore Natasha Williams placed second in the 5,000 meters to lead the Lamar track and field teams at last weekend's LSU Alumni Gold Meet in Bernie Moore Stadium.

Baird, a native of New Zealand, blazed around the track for the 1,500 victory in a time of 4:30.19. Her time ranks second on LU's all-time outdoor performance list and it is the third-best time in the Southland Conference this season.

Williams nabbed second in the 5,000 with the league's third fastest time of 17:51.33. Her time is a personal best and ranks fifth on LU's all-time performance list. Junior Candace Taylor also secured a spot on Lamar's all-time bests list with a personal record in the 800 meters. Taylor clocked the SLC's second-best time of the season with a 2:13.44, shaving almost five seconds off of LU's previous best.

Hardin-Jefferson graduate Toni Sylvester also performed well for the women's team as she posted LU's best time of the season with a 56.88 in the 400.

On the men's side, Jake Champagne ran the Cardinals' season-best time in the 800 meters en route to a fourth-place finish. His time of 1:53.79 ranks second in the SLC and was just over three seconds shy of an NCAA regional qualifying standard.

Champagne also helped the men's 4X400 meter relay team to a season-best performance and a sixth-place finish. The mile relay squad raced to a 3:13.49, which ranks third among the league leaders.

Quarter-milers Lon Winchester and Johan Hed also turned in season best outings in the 400. Winchester ran LU's fastest time of the season and the second-ranked SLC time with a 48.66. Hed finished right behind Winchester, recorded the league's third-best time of 48.76.

Senior Jeremy Kemp broke away from the rest of the Cardinals to participate in the Mount SAC Relays at Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut, California on Sunday, Apr. 18. Kemp, a native of Sherman, placed 23rd in the 200 meters with a time of 21.66.

Lamar returns to action next week with the Rice Invitational in Houston on Saturday, Apr. 24.