St. Louis bids for three-peat at state indoor meet today

Published 1:38 pm Saturday, February 19, 2022

The St. Louis Catholic girls go for a third consecutive Division II indoor track and field state championship today at LSU’s Carl Maddox Field House, but Episcopal-Baton Rouge will be on their heels, as usual, looking to regain the top spot.

St. Louis beat Episcopal by one point in 2020 and 24 points last year, but St. Louis head coach Johnny Giordano knows nothing is guaranteed. Episcopal last won in 2015 when it tied with Hamilton Christian.

“I am a little nervous about it, but at least we have an opportunity to do it,” Giordano said. “Episcopal is one of the big contenders this year as well.

“I think it is going to be very competitive. They are spectacular in the field.”

The Saints qualified at least one athlete in each event.

“Each event is critical,” Giordano said. “What is an advantage for us is that we have someone in every single event. That is a testament to the kids’ hard work and dedication.”

While the Saints lost sprinter and middle-distance runner Halyn Senegal to graduation, Giordano said junior distance runner Ella Segura has stepped up. She is seeded No. 1 in the 3200-meter run and second in the 1,600 and 800 runs. Senegal, who runs for the University of Nevada, won the 400, 800 and 4×400 last year and was second in the 60 dash.

“Segura has been amazing, great story and great kid,” Giordano said. “She had no track background from middle school to speak of.

“It didn’t look like she would make our team as a freshman. But lo and behold she gets better each month. She is confident that she can do it, and she is all about the team. She is going to make some physical sacrifices for us to win the championship.”

The Saints also have the top team in all three relay events. Tia Reder is seeded in the top two in the long and triple jumps, and Kenzie Touchet No. 1 in the 60-meter hurdles.

Lake Charles College Prep, the defending Class 3A outdoor champion, is a contender for the Division II boys title after finishing fourth last year.

The Trailblazers have the No. 1 4×200 and 4×400 teams led by sprinters Eric Beloney, Kevin Thomas, Trevonte Citizen and Jarrell Joseph. LCCP won both relays last year.

Joseph is seeded No. 2 in a pair of individual events, the 60 dash (7.19) and 400 run (50.34).

Also, in Division II, Westlake junior Tristan Goodly is looking to add to his 2021 outdoor triple jump state title as the top seed in the long jump (22-1) and triple jump (45-71/4). Hamilton Christian’s Derrick Williams is the favorite in the shot put (49-91/4), while St. Louis’ Mason Abshire is one of the top contenders in the pole vault (13-03/4).

LCCP’s Jayla Mason is the top seed in the girls 400 run (59.22).