***This is the first in a series written by former McNeese champion triple jumper John Lemke who is a volunteer assistant for the McNeese track and field team this season. McNeese will begin competition on Friday at the 2019 SLC outdoor championships in Natchitoches.***

LAKE CHARLES - McNeese track and field has had a plethora of talent throughout its history.  With multiple All-American's and National Champions, the Cowboys and Cowgirls are no stranger to big moments. 
 
Over the next three days, McNeese standouts will take a trip down memory lane and share what was so memorable about conference championship meets and what is was like competing for McNeese
 
Sam Vidrine threw javelin for the Cowboys after transferring from Southeastern Louisiana.  In his time as a Cowboy, Vidrine won two league titles in the javelin throw in 2010 and 2011.  Vidrine led the Cowboys at the 2010 Southland Championships to a 1-2-3 sweep of the event and placed sixth place at the 2010 NCAA championship meet, garnering him All-American honors.  He is currently ranked third in the school record book in the javelin throw. 
 
The Mamou native recalls his time with the Cowboys javelin squad from the conference meet in 2010: "Me and Ben Chretien were throwing at conference and back then we only had two javelins. One of them was blue and I absolutely hated it but Ben loved it.  Both of our brand new javelins didn't weigh in at the competition so we had to ask to use another team's javelins.  During the competition, Ben couldn't put one together but on his final throw, he finished one and he moved up from about fourth to second place. After the competition, Ben's dad calls him over and Ben explained that the javelins didn't weigh in.  Ben's dad's response was something along the lines of 'if he throws someone else's javelin again, he's gonna shove it where the sun don't shine'.  It was a good thing we went 1-2-3 that meet."
 
Jarrett Leblanc came to the McNeese track in field team in 2007 from Hathaway.  The Cowboy finished his career with a 10,000-meter run title and a 5000-meter run title from the 2011 championships.  In 2012, Leblanc was a key part in the Cowboys cross country championship team, placing third and helping McNeese sweep the top three positions at the championship meet.
 
"Definitely winning the conference championship in cross country as a team is one of my favorites," said Leblanc. "It made it sweeter because Lamar hosted the meet, a team that is always very strong and a rival of ours.  On the track, my fondest memory would have to be when I won the 5000-meter run and 10,000-meter run my senior year at outdoor championships.  After I won the 10K, I was dehydrated and felt terrible.  I was throwing my guts up with coach Gilroy and the trainer Maria helping keep me alive, and my roommate and teammate Tomas Canchola passed out snoring.  I went from going to scratch the 5000-meter run to winning the race by outkicking a UTSA runner."  
 
After his career as a Cowboy, Leblanc became the first ever Louisiana native to run a sub-4:00 mile on Louisiana soil when he accomplished it in 2015 at McNeese.  Leblanc has also qualified for two Olympic trials in the marathon (2016,2020 and still competes for Rabbit Running as a rabbitPRO team member. 
 
LaShantena Rounds was an All-American thrower for the Cowgirls, having won three gold medals in the weight throw for the indoor season from 2012-2014.  She was also named outstanding field performer at the 2012 championship meet indoors and continues to hold the McNeese and Southland Conference record with a mark of 71'6.25.  In 2014, Rounds became an All-American in the weight throw, finishing fourth overall at the NCAA championship meet.  Rounds' final Southland championship meet is the competition she recalls most in her time here at McNeese.
 
"My most memorable Southland Conference Championship was indoor 2014 in Birmingham, Alabama. It was such a memorable experience because of the different emotions that I felt. It was my last season competing as a Cowgirl so I knew I wanted to represent for my school in an extraordinary way. I was elated, while also sad knowing that this was the end of my collegiate career. On February 26, 2014, I competed in the weight throw and completed day one of the conference championship by receiving a gold medal with a toss of 67 feet. The following day, I competed in the shot put, earning a bronze medal and personal record mark for the season of 48 feet, 4 inches. Those accomplishments led to me earning the award of Top Female Field Event Scorer at 2014 SLC Indoor Conference Championship. I was joyful of my accomplishments and that I was able to 'leave it all on the track,' as my coach would say, and represent McNeese State University in an astonishing way. I was also thankful for the amount of support that I received, not only for the championship meet, but throughout the season from my family, coaches, teammates, and my Southland Conference family. February of 2014 at the Birmingham Metro CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama, will always be one of the highlights of my collegiate career and I'm forever grateful for the support and the opportunity. Forever Cowgirl…. GEAUX POKES!!!!"
 
Jasmine Webb transferred to McNeese in the fall of 2012 and became the fastest short sprinter in program history in her career.  For the indoor season, Webb broke the 55-meter dash and the 60-meter dash school records.  Outdoors, Webb was a two-time conference champion in the 100-meter dash (2013,2014), a 2013 conference champ in the 200-meter dash, and a two-time conference champion in the 4x100-meter relay, setting the school record in the process and also the third fastest time in Southland Conference history. 
 
During her two seasons as a Cowgirl, Webb won the 2013 outdoor Newcomer of the Year Award, the 2013 and 2014 Outstanding Running Events Performer as well as the Southland Conference Athlete of the Year. She also won high point scorer of the championship meet in 2014. 
 
Webb continues to hold school records for the Cowgirls in the 55-meter dash, the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash outdoors, and the 4x100-meter relay.  Webb's outstanding performances provided for very fond and joyful memories. 
 
"Conference at McNeese had a significant impact on my life and future," reflected Webb. "While preparing on a daily basis for excellence, I went into the 2013 conference championships confidant and determined to give it my all; and that is exactly what I did. At the conclusion of the meet we came in second place overall as a team.  With the help of my teammates, coaches, and friends, I was able to assist in the effort by helping our 4x1 team win the gold medal and break the school record (44.9).  On top of that, I broke both the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash school records, winning the gold medal in both events with times of 11.36 and 23.3.

"At the end of the day, I felt proud of my teams' accomplishments and of course my own.  My day was capped off by winning the newcomer of the year and high point scorer awards.  
I couldn't ask for more, but my blessings had not come to an end.  That sunny day in Lake Charles, at the 2013 Southland Conference Championships, I met my husband. Not only did I get the opportunity to compete with some the best athletes in the NCAA, but I was also able to meet a nice young man, who shared the same academic values and competitiveness on and off the track. If it wasn't for this conference championship, I wouldn't be where I am today or have my beautiful daughter, Malaysia." 


Jasmine Cornelius is one of the most decorated Cowgirl jumpers to ever attend McNeese.  Winning a total of four conference long jump titles (two indoors, two outdoors), Cornelius still holds the indoor long jump school record that she set back in 2013.  She was also on the conference All-Academic team twice in 2013 and 2014 while qualifying for the NCAA regional meet in 2013.  She achieved Academic All-American honors in 2013 for qualifying for the regional meet with a GPA above 3.2.  The Elgin, Texas native recalls the conference meet where she set the indoor long jump school record:
 
"There are so many memorable moments from my tenure as a McNeese Cowgirl. One in particular is the 2014 indoor conference championship meet. I had won and set the university record in long jump in the indoor meet before, and I realized that there is something very humbling and intimidating about other athletes and coaches having certain expectations of you. I didn't perform my best in the prelims, and in the last jump of finals, I won the event. I became the first Cowgirl to win consecutive titles in the event. I remember that I couldn't stop smiling and shaking because I knew all of the hard work was finally paying off. I was so proud to be part of the McNeese track and field team."  
 
Nicole Casper came to McNeese from Buna, Texas, and became the highest vaulter in McNeese Cowgirl history.  In 2015, Casper finished second to national champion Demi Payne in the pole vault at the conference championship and had actually broken the conference meet record prior to Payne winning the competition.  In 2016, Casper captured the outdoor conference title and followed it up with a win at the 2017 championship meet.  Three times, Casper qualified for the regional meet and all three times achieved Academic All-American honors.  Casper still holds both indoor and outdoor pole vault records for the Cowgirls.  Her 2015 championships didn't end in a win, yet it is the most memorable to her because of the great competition she was able to take part in. 

"I would have to say my favorite conference championship was the one at Southeastern. Now granted, I did not win this meet, but this was the most memorable meet because I had to do a jump off with a vaulter from Sam Houston for second place. In a jump off, the bar has to go to the last bar that both jumpers had previously cleared to begin. She was up first and cleared the bar on her first attempt. At this point in the competition I was quite tired but somehow I gathered my nerves and channeled all the adrenaline and energy I had left and told myself 'there is no way I'm going to lose this jump off. So, focus, breath, and vault.' So that's what I did, and sure enough, I cleared it. We both cleared and missed the same heights for what seemed like hours and kept us in a tie. The bar finally reached 13'8 and she cleared it on her second attempt. I remember her celebration after her clearance, but I specifically remember her coach saying, 'I wouldn't celebrate too soon because you fuel her fire every time you clear a bar.'
 
"It was my second attempt and unfortunately, I missed. But I was not going down like that. I had one more attempt left and I was going to clear this bar no matter what it took. On my third attempt, I gathered all my strength and took off down the runway and before I knew it, I had landed on the mat on the other side of the bar with the bar still remaining 13'8 feet in the air. I HAD CLEARED IT!  A new personal best! I put up a fight and never backed down. Although, she placed second and I placed third on attempts, I will never forget what her coach told her because it was nothing but the truth. Her success made me strong, gave me drive and determination and this is a day I will never forget."