LAKE CHARLES, La. – Coach Mike Erb's New Orleans Privateers Track and Field team made their 2014 indoor debut by placing three individuals in second place in their respective disciplines at the McNeese Invitational on Friday.
"I thought it was a very good start for our young program," said Erb. "For most of the athletes, it was their first collegiate meet and they performed admirably. We definitely have a long way to go, but it was a good barometer for where we are."
The Privateers saw most of their individual success in the women's events. Sofia Johnsson came just shy of taking home first place in the women's 600-meter run. She placed second, just .93 seconds off the winning time set by Ashley Johnson of Nicholls State.
Sarah Booth also took second place in the one-mile run with a time of 5:39.20. That time was just .40 seconds off of Tiesha Alexander of Grambling. Fadeke Adeolaalso claimed second in the women's high jump event. New Orleans also got a third place finish from Farydah Inoussa in the 55-meter hurdles final after finishing fourth in the preliminaries. Inoussa shaved .02 seconds from her preliminary time of 8.41 seconds.
The men's events saw New Orleans take home a couple of fourth place finishes from Darius Roy in the 55-meter dash and Constant Pretorius in the 600-meter run.
The team will head next to Jonesboro, Arkansas to take part in the Arkansas State Invitational on Friday, Jan. 24.