McNeese State University - Log Yearbook (Lake Charles, LA)

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— Whether they are competing in a long distance run, a short sprint, or a field event, the Cowboys are SEE Setting the Pace Coach Bob Hayes’ 18 years at McNeese have given him many lasting memories, and 1984 was no exception. The season had a number of excit- ing moments and outstanding performances. Cross Country season be- gan in the fall semester with the McNeese Invitational. Rob- ert Stolz, who was an all-SLC performer in 1983, led the Cowboys to a third place finish in the team standings. Stolz also led the Pokes at the UT-Arlington and Louisi- ana Tech Invitationals. Other runners who performed for the Cowboys were Enda Coll, Ter- ry Jones, Bill Bradshaw, Nick Eyrich, Kevin Gibson, and Ronald Evans. One of the best meets for McNeese was at the North- western Invitational in Natchi- toches. The team finished third with 78 points. Coll placed eighth in the five mile race in 26.42, Bradshaw fin- ished 14th in 28.44, and Jones placed 12th in 28.34. The Cross Country season McNeese sprinter, Victor Bailey, charges out of the blocks against fel- low competitors during the indoor in- vitational. (Photo by G. Edwards) ended with a sixth place finish at the SLC meet in Ruston. Stolz again led McNeese with an 11th place finish in 33.07 over the 10,000 meter course. Brian Cooper, who was ineli- gible in 1984, charged into the 85 indoor campaign with some record setting perfor- mances. At the first meet, the McNeese Invitational, Cooper set a school record by winning the long jump with a leap of 26'11”, which qualified him for the NCAA National Indoor Meet. Cooper then finished fourth at nationals and earned All-American honors. “Although | felt | could've fin- ished higher, | was very happy to be an All-American,’ said Cooper. Cooper won the SLC long jump title with a new confer- ence meet record of 25'10%%” and finished second in the 60 yard dash with a time of 6.27. During the indoor campaign several other school records were broken. Freshman Gary Bean, who finished third in the SLC, set the school high jump record with a leap of 7’0”. Mark Fisher, who holds the Cowboy outdoor pole vault re- continued Track 143

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142 Enda Coll, a sophomore accounting major, finished his cross country trek with a 26:42 time. The McNeese Invi- tational was held at the Lake Charles Country Club. (Photo by B. Mericle) Sports Freshman, Kevin Vitatoe, of New Iberia, warms up before the 200-me- ter dash at the McNeese indoor track meet held in the Recreational Complex. (Photo by G. Edwards) ; i |

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cord, broke the indoor mark by clearing 16’0” and finishing third at the SLC meet. Senior Robert Gaines shat- tered the school indoor 400 meter dash record with a 49.0 clocking. Gaines was also on the mile relay team of Arthur DeGray, Williard Taylor, and Reggie Jenkins that placed second in SLC with a new school mark of 3.17.9. At the SLC Championship Indoor Meet McNeese scored 43 points to place sixth behind defending champion Lamar, 152 points. “We have a much better team than we showed at con- ference and we will prove it in the outdoor season, ’ said Hayes. The outdoor season began with an impressive 90-63 victo- ry over Southeastern. Cooper won four events. Several other members of the team also looked good. Andrew Porter won a double in his first meet. Porter threw the shot over 50’ and the dis- cus over the 150’ mark. Ted Harris, who placed fourth in the SLC meet in 1984, was the top javelin performer for the Pokes with a best of 144 Sports Setting the Pace 218'3”. Greg Lejuene, 207’, and Scott Myers, 200’, also helped in the javelin events. Johnson Brown, a junior col- lege All-American transfer, scored in the steeplechase and ran on the distance med- ley team of Ronald Evans, Todd Sigaty, and Reggie Jen- kins. Sigaty and Evans also ran low 1.50’s in the 800 meters. Nick Eyrich helped the dis- tance group with a personal best of 15.21 in the 5,000 me- ters. In the high jump, freshman school record holder Gary Bean placed third at the Rice Invitational while Robert Ben- net, 6'10”, and Charles Landry, 6’10”, also helped the Pokes. Shannon Dougherty came off an injured hamstring to score for McNeese in the high and low hurdles. Shannon also long jumped over 24’. Freshman Williard Taylor, who missed early meets with injuries, Arthur DeGray, and Kevin Vitatoe ran well enough to score for the Pokes. Assistant Coach Jack Reirdon sig- nals the beginning of a 100-meter time trial. (Photo by G. Edwards)