LAFAYETTE, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University track and field team opened the outdoor portion of its schedule by earning 11 spots on the podium, including five at the top step, Saturday at the Louisiana Classics, hosted by the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, at the Home Bank Soccer & Track Complex.
 
On the track, the men were led by Javon-Taye Williams, who took home gold in the 400-meter dash, crossing the line in a new personal best time of 47.16 seconds. Darian Chestnut earned a silver in the 800-meter dash, stopping the clock in 1:56.11 for the second place finish. The men ended the day with a bronze in the 4x800-meter relay, finishing third as Williams, Tim Anstett, Josiah Whitaker, and Noah Kiprotich completed the race in a time of 8:05.08.
 
The women of the track picked up a pair of podium spots. Esther Nwanze earned Southeastern's second gold on the track as she set a new personal best time in the 400-meter hurdles by crossing the line in 1:00.80. Miriam Kauer earned third place in the 400-meter dash by also racing to a new personal best, stopping the clock in 55.94 seconds to take the bronze medal spot. The day for the women's track team ended with another bronze medal, this time in the 4x400-meter relay as Nwanze, Kauer, Onyah Favour, Porsha Miles finished their run in 3:47.23.
 
On the field, all of the medals on the day were earned by the men's team as SLU took home three golds and five medals overall. In the hammer throw, two Lions took home medals as Terrell Webb continued to lead the throwers, as his fifth throw went 61.97 meters (203'3") to secure the top podium spot. On the second level of the hammer throw medal podium was Webb's teammate, Gerrit Visser. Visser had the second-longest throw of the day as his second toss went 57.71 meters (189'4"), getting him the silver medal.
 
Slavko Stevic continued to show that the high jump competition goes through him, running away from the field as the only competitor to cross 2.10 meters as his highest successful jump of the day went for 2.19 meters (7'2.25"). Donald Butler finished just off the medal podium in fourth place by leaping over 1.99 meters (6'6.25").
 
Gabriel Lim took home Southeastern's final gold medal of the day, showing his prowess in the javelin as his second throw landed 62.95 meters (206'6") away.
 
SLU's final medal in the field went to Donroy Brown in the shot put. Brown's second toss made contact with the ground 16.31 meters (53'6.25") from where he threw it, good enough to take a silver medal home from Lafayette.
 
With the opening weekend of the outdoor season now complete, the Lions look to improve on their opening marks of the season next Saturday as Southeastern makes the 45-minute drive to Baton Rouge for the Keyth Talley Invitational, hosted by LSU at Bernie Moore Stadium.
 
PODIUM CLUB/S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the track and field program are encouraged to join the Podium Club. Lion alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners. All membership fees and donations to Podium Club are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern track and field program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Track and Field, follow @LionUpTrack on Twitter, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube. channel.