Westlake’s Tristan Goodly and St. Louis Catholic’s Kenzie Touchet finished their careers as two of the most accomplished track and field athletes ever to come out of Southwest Louisiana. Barbe’s Ariel Williams proved once again that she is a versatile athlete and Hamilton Christian freshman Kaleb Bigwood burst onto the scene as one of the rising middle distance runners in the parish.

They are this year’s recipients of the 52nd Cagle Award as voted by Calcasieu Parish high school track and field coaches. The award has been presented to the top track and field athletes in Calcasieu Parish since 1971 and is named for the late Kenneth “Bobby” Cagle, a supporter of track and field and a former state legislator and businessman.

Boys field

Tristan Goodly

Westlake, Sr.

Goodly won the award last year with three state titles, but he went a step further to win his second consecutive Cagle Award with four state championships.

Goodly, a Southeastern Louisiana signee, won the Division II indoor long jump (22-10) and triple jump (46-6 1/4) and repeated the feat in the outdoor season, winning the Class 3A titles (23-0 long jump, 46-6 1/4 triple jump) to bring his career total to eight state championships. He finished the year ranked in the top 10 in all four events according to la.milesplit.com, including the top indoor (47-4 1/2) and outdoor triple jump (48-9 3/4) in the state in all classes this season.

“He was working and striving,” Westlake boys head track coach C.J. Hudson said. “You could really tell he wanted to go out on top, especially with that outdoor long jump.

“It was the one title that kind of eluded him,” Hudson said. “He strove for it and got it. To be able to coach him was probably the easiest job I ever had. My actual first coaching job ever was as a CECP at Hamilton Christian and I was the quarterbacks coach for Jace Peterson. Either that year or this year was the easiest job I ever had. I just sit back and watch.”

He is the second in his family to win two Cagle Awards after his older brother Xavier won in 2018 and 2019. After not finishing in the top five in either event at the Nike Indoor Nationals in March, Goodly went undefeated in the long and triple jump during the outdoor season.

“He went to Nike in New York and couldn’t find the board too well,” Hudson said. “I think that little set back helped him a lot.

“He came back really motivated for the outdoor season. I know last year when he went to Oregon, he finished in the top six and make him a national jumper. He is just built different. Every day we went out to practice, he had already been out there for an hour. Then we would finish our track workout, and his dad would come meet him. He was putting in multiple extra hours a day to perfect his craft. Any thing you can think of that great athletes do, he is doing it.”

Boys track

Kaleb Bigwood

Hamilton Christian, Fr.

Entering his freshman season, Bigwood wasn’t totally convinced that he was an 800-meter runner.

Hamilton Christian head track coach Aleyah Donald helped him to realize his potential.

“With Kaleb he was always very negative about the 800,” Donald said. “He didn’t think the 800 was his thing, maybe the 400 or the 200.

“In the indoor season, we mainly worked on the 200 and 400. I wanted him to get faster and do it with endurance. Every other week we will run the 800, I won’t overload you. Then we noticed his times started dropping, so I was ‘hey look we are going to cut out the 400 and 200 for a little bit’ and we started running him in just the 800.”

He he dropped nearly 10 seconds off his best time from his eighth grade season and ended up winning the outdoor Class 1A 800 state championship (1:59.54) and leading his team to a third place finish in the 4×400 relay (3:32.91). His time in the 2-1A Regional of 1:59.10 ranks 25th in the state this season according to la.milesplit.com. He is one of only two Southwest Louisiana runners to break the 2-minute mark in the 800 this season along with Leesville’s Keeton Johnson.

“I am very impressed with his dedication to the indoor and outdoor season,” Donald said. “With indoor, he wasn’t really at his mark but I explained to him indoor is a stepping stone o the outdoor season and you just have to be patient and work every day even through the rain.

“I think we can get it down for sure next season because during the summertime he has been lifting. I know he is only going to get stronger and progress. Kaleb is going to be one of the best in the area.”

Girls field

Ariel Williams

Barbe, Sr.

Williams competed in a half dozen different track and field events during her career, and mixed in basketball and volleyball. She excelled the most in the jumping events and finished her senior season ranked in the top four in the state in the high jump and long jump.

“She will be missed dearly,” Barbe girls track coach Steven Richard said. “She is definitely athletic in more than one sport and more than one event. It is a lot of points to lose. She ran both relays in her career, the 4×200 and the 4×100, but we had to pick the ones that scored the most. So she just ran the 4×200, and she long jumped, high jump then ran the open 200. She was running the 100 and ran close to a 12.3 in one meet. Last year she triple jumped. She is well rounded. We just tried to put her in the places that she could do her best.”

After a second place finish at state last year, Williams won the Class 5A high jump title after clearing 5-8, then added bronze in the long jump (17-5 3/4) and 4×200-meter relay (1:40.49) and nearly medaled in the open 200, placing fourth (25.51 seconds).

She went from clearing 4-10 as a freshman to 5-10 this season, the top mark in the state according to la.milesplit.com. Her best mark in the long jump was 19-0 1/2, fourth in the state overall.

“That (2020) was that COVID year and no telling what she could have got up to that year she missed out,” Richard said. “She is just a natural athlete.

“She never spent time strictly on the high jump, long jump and stuff because she was always doing another sport. Her summer was made up of basketball and volleyball practice. Then February would roll around and she would go straight into track. This year they made a run, so she had one week off and went straight into track. You would like to say that it was great coaching, but that would be a lie. It is just her being a really good athlete. It comes natural to her.”

Williams will get to focus on one sport at the college level after signing with the Louisiana Tech track and field program.

“I am really curious to see what she can do when she just has track to focus on,” Richard said.

Girls track

Kenzie Touchet

St. Louis Catholic, Sr.

Touchet, a UL-Lafayette signee, capped off her storied high school track and field career with seven individual and relay medals and an outdoor team title. She dominated the hurdles events where she won the 60 indoor and the 100 and 300 outdoor gold medals.

“It has been unique, especially in our area,” St. Louis Catholic head track coach Johnny Giordano said. “She goes down as No. 1 all-time in Southwest Louisiana and that is a fact.

“I just appreciate the journey that she has had. That child started off running in the mid-16 as a freshman in the 100-meter hurdles and running 9.4 and 9.3 in the 60-meter hurdles. Then turned into top-10 all-time in Louisiana in all three hurdle races. It is just her work ethic. I don’t know if I had anyone that has worked any harder or more committed. The child just does what she needs to do. She does it when nobody is looking. She does extra stuff on her own. “

She started her career as a middle distance runner.

“It has been an interesting transition,” Giordano said. “She used to be an 800-meter runner. When she came as a freshman, she was exclusively an 800 type runner.

“The skill set that is required to do that is far different than what it takes to be an explosive hurdler. She has worked hard at her sprinting and explosiveness to get better. That is what she has brought to the table.”

In Touchet’s stint at St. Louis, the Saints won six state championships, she and helped set record in the Division II indoor 4×400 and Class 3A outdoor 4×400

“What she has brought to the team can never be understated,” Giordano said. “This child has done some remarkable things.

“It is basically legendary. If you look at her body of work between the 400, 800, short hurdles all the relays. She is part of the two best 4×400 meter relay teams in St. Louis Catholics’ divisions. Athletically, she is probably the best athlete I have ever coached because she can do everything.”

All-time winners of the Cagle Award for Track Excellence in Calcasieu Parish

2023 — Tristan Goodly, Westlake; Kaleb Bigwood, Hamilton Christian; Ariel Williams, Barbe; Kenzie Touchet, St. Louis Catholic.

2022 — Tristan Goodly, Westlake; JaRell Joseph, Lake Charles College Prep; Tia Reder, St. Louis Catholic; Jayla Mason, Lake Charles College Prep.

2021 — Marcus Francis, Lake Charles College Prep; Thaddeus Campbell, Lake Charles College Prep; Halyn Senegal, St. Louis Catholic; Emma Freeman, St. Louis Catholic.

2020 — No award (COVID-19 pandemic)

2019 — Xavier Goodly, Westlake; Ivan Appleton, St. Louis Catholic; Keondra Johnson, Westlake; Halyn Senegal, Sam Houston

2018 — Xavier Goodly, Westlake; Gage Socha, Barbe; Keonda Johnson,Westlake; Ciera Gilroy, Barbe.

2017 — Christian Edwards, Washington-Marion; Ethan Thomas LaGrange; Frankie Griffin, Iowa; Ciera Gilroy, Barbe.

2016 — Christian Edwards, Washington-Marion; Ethan Rapp, Sulphur; Rhea Thompson, St. Louis; Bailey Fruge, St. Louis.

2015 — Landon Dore, St. Louis; Ben Avery, Hamilton Christian; Rhea Thompson, St. Louis; Hannah Jackson, Sulphur.

2014 — Landon Dore, St. Louis; Markel Thomas, LaGrange; Nique Griffin, Hamilton Christian; Kaitlyn Tunks, St. Louis.

2013 — Darren Duhon, Washington-Marion; Blair Henderson, St. Louis; Rhea Thompson, St. Louis; Kaitlyn Tunks, Westlake.

2012 — Deonte Peters, LaGrange; Blair Henderson, St. Louis; Whitney Adams, Vinton; Nique Griffin, Hamilton Christian.

2011 — Zach Stone, Barbe; Justin Brown, Sam Houston; Teirral Thompson, Washington-Marion; Morgan Simon, LaGrange.

2010 — Alfred Bartie, LaGrange; Stephen Eccles, St. Louis; Sam Pavlovich, Sam Houston; Courtnei Carter, St. Louis.

2009 — Taurean Blake, LaGrange; Thomas Reinecke, St. Louis; Alexis Malone, St. Louis; Angela Roberts, Barbe.

2008 — Blake Hollier, Westlake; Thomas Reinecke, St. Louis; Janessa Doucett, Iowa (won track and field).

2007 — Kenneth Pierce, LaGrange; David Richardson, Sam Houston; Janessa Doucett, Iowa; Andrea Warren, Lake Charles-Boston

2006 — Trey Harts, Barbe; Mike Miller, St. Louis; Andrea Warren, Lake Charles-Boston; Julie Buller, Westlake.

2005 — Trey Harts, Barbe; Mike Miller, St. Louis; Whitney McKinnie, Lake Charles-Boston; Kelli Maddox, Westlake.

2004 — Trey Harts, Barbe; Martin Zeno, Sulphur; Francis Vital, Iowa (won track and field).

2003 — Darrus Joseph, Lake Charles-Boston; Martin Zeno, Sulphur; Katrina Castille, St. Louis; Dominique Thompson, Lake Charles-Boston.

2002 — Darrus Joseph, Lake Charles-Boston; Jamaal Shelton, Barbe; Katrina Castille, St. Louis; Dominique Thompson, Lake Charles-Boston.

2001 — Darrus Joseph, Lake Charles-Boston; Greg Bellard, Iowa; Jackie John, Iowa; Bernette Tolston, Lake Charles-Boston.

2000 — Darrus Joseph, Lake Charles-Boston; Henry Frazier, Lake Charles-Boston; Jackie John, Iowa; Stephanie Harmon, LaGrange and Bernette Tolston, Lake Charles-Boston.

1999 — Desmond LaFleur, Lake Charles-Boston; Brian Johnson, Iowa; Jackie John, Iowa; Stephanie Harmon, LaGrange.

1998 — Desmond LaFleur, Lake Charles-Boston; Ryan Duplechain, Barbe; Kenya Warren, Lake Charles-Boston; Romeka Carter, Lake Charles-Boston.

1997 — Shannon O’Quinn, Sam Houston; Jarvis Gilliam, Lake Charles-Boston; Nedra Green, LaGrange; Mia Mouton, Lake Charles-Boston.

1996 — Dennis Nelson, Washington-Marion; Russ Buller, Westlake; Myra Combs, LaGrange; Samantha Chesson, Vinton.

1995 — Harry Green, Lake Charles-Boston; Jarvis Gilliam, Washington-Marion; Myra Combs, Barbe; Crystal Guillory, LaGrange.

1994 — Harry Green, Lake Charles-Boston; Jay Seymour, St. Louis; Beverly Brister, Sam Houston; MaShawn Franklin, LaGrange.

1993 — Harry Green, Lake Charles-Boston; Marcus Vidrine, Sulphur; Amy Petroski, Barbe; MaShawn Franklin, LaGrange.

1992 — Eddie Kennison, Washington-Marion; Chris Ryan, Sulphur; Cleo Jones, Sulphur, and Amy Petroski, Barbe; Natosha Barber, Lake Charles-Boston.

1991 — Eddie Kennison, Washington-Marion; Mike Williamson, Barbe, and Chad Reeves, Sam Houston; Keisha Ray Owens, Vinton; Natosha Barber, Lake Charles-Boston.

1990 — Mike Morin, Sulphur; Chris Parker, Westlake; Keisha Ray, Vinton; Kellye Thibodeaux, Sam Houston.

1989 — Mike Morin, Sulphur; Chris Parker, Westlake; Shannon Cox, Barbe; Kellye Thibodeaux, Sam Houston.

1988 — Rodney Duhon, Washington-Marion; Randall Starland, Washington-Marion.

1987 — Gerard Semien, Lake Charles-Boston; Brent LeJeune, Barbe.

1986 — Terrance Guillory, Washington-Marion; Eric Baldwin, Lake Charles-Boston.

1985 — Larry Bellard, Iowa; Mark Cole, Washington-Marion.

1984 — Scott Bradley, LaGrange; Sam Simien, DeQuincy.

1983 — Reggie Jenkins, LaGrange; Anthony Druillhet, LaGrange.

1982 — Reggie Jenkins, LaGrange; Mike January, Westlake.

1981 — Jay Gallagher, Sulphur; Will Ambrose, St. Louis and Kenneth Winey, Washington.

1980 — Van Savell, Westlake; Will Ambrose, St. Louis.

1979 — Kelvin Washington, Boston; Stephen Starring, Vinton.

1978 — Orlando McDaniel, Lake Charles; Haywood DeJean, Lake Charles.

1977 — Orlando McDaniel, Lake Charles; Lynn Syas, Lake Charles.

1976 — DePorris Cormier, Lake Charles; Jody Royer, Iowa.

1975 — Gerald Bellard, Lake Charles; Ken Hebert, Barbe.

1974 — Curt Burton, Lake Charles; Dennis Morris, Lake Charles.

1973 — Nick Anderson, LaGrange; Ted Waller, Vinton.

1972 — Robert Cagle, LaGrange; Ted Waller, Vinton.

1971 — Griffin Edwards, Marion; John Mulliniks, LaGrange.