RUSTON – McNeese's track and field team had a competitive showing at Saturday's Louisiana Tech/Jim Mize Invitational with several athletes picking up top three honors in various events.
 
The Cowgirls fared better than the Cowboys as they picked up three first place marks, a second place and two third place finishes. The Cowboys had a couple second place marks on the day.
 
McNeese swept the top three places in the women's pole vault as Nicole Casper won for the second straight week, this time clearing 13-feet, 1 ½-inches to beat out teammate Katie Thornton who cleared 11-7.75 to finish second. Casper's height ranks her No. 1 in the league rankings. Hannah Ogea tied for third in the event with a 9-8 mark.
 
Sprinter Maegan Moore took first in the women's 100-meter dash with a time of 12.30 then was part of the 4x100-meter relay team to win the event with a season-best time of 46.18. Joining Moore on the squad were Danielle Epps, Victoria Martin and Simone Johnson.
 
Moore also finish fourth in the 200 meters with a time of 24.97 while Aria Kelly placed third in the 400 meters with a mark of 1:00.78.
 
On the men's side, Hiram Morales posted finished second in the shot put with a throw of 52-feet, 9 ¾-inches while freshman Donavon Banks continues to impress in the javelin event where he placed second with a throw at 199-4 one week after winning the event at the Cowboy Relays with a throw just over 212.
 
Freshman sprinter Tyler Smith clocked a PR in the 100 meter dash with a time of 11.11 for a fourth place finish.
 
Sophomore Olandis Johnson took third in the 400 meters with a time of 49.30, a time that ranks him No. 3 in the conference rankings.