HAMMOND, La. – A week after having its scheduled opener scuttled by bad weather, the Southeastern Louisiana University track & field teams will again try to begin its outdoor season on Saturday with most of the teams in Baton Rouge at the Lurline Struppeck Invitational while a small contingent will head to Lafayette for the Louisiana Classics on Saturday.
 
The Lurline Struppeck Invitational, hosted by LSU, starts at 9:30 a.m. at the Bernie Moore Track Stadium in Baton Rouge while the Louisiana Classics, hosted by the University of Louisiana – Lafayette, kicks off at 10 a.m. from the Home Bank Soccer & Track Complex in Lafayette. Live results will be available for both events through the host institutions.
 
The Lions return several All-Conference outdoor performers and NCAA regional qualifiers from a year ago who are looking to improve their standings in 2025.
 
Gabriel Lim returns in the javelin throw after qualifying for the East First Round as a freshman a season ago.
 
Donroy Brown will be making his throws in the shot put, looking to again throw his way to the postseason after qualifying for the First Round last year.
 
Olu Ogunyemi, who was an All-Conference performer by winning a silver medal in the 110-meter hurdles at the 2023 SLC Outdoor Championships, will try to return to top form after injury derailed most of his 2024 season.
 
Javon-Taye Williams will try to improve on his bronze medal from the 2024 SLC Championships, which also made him an All-Conference athlete, in the 400-meter dash. He was the 2023 SLC Champion in the 800-meter run and is expected to be one of Southeastern's main runners in the 4x400-meter relay.
 
Terrell Webb, the defending SLC Champion and East First Round qualifier in the hammer throw in 2024, is not scheduled to compete this week after his 15^th place finish in the weight throw final at the NCAA Division I Indoor National Championships a week ago.
 
The Lady Lions have Esther Nwanze and Onyah Favour returning after both qualified for the East First Round a season ago.
 
Nwanze will look to better her silver medal from the 2024 SLC Outdoor Championships in the 400-meter hurdles while also serving on the 4x400-meter relay team. During indoor, she focused the sprint version of the 400, but is expected to make the transition to the hurdles, much like she did in 2024.
 
Favour qualified for the East First Round in the 400-meter dash in 2024, and will be trying to improve and get onto the podium at the SLC Outdoor Championships after a fourth-place finish in her first campaign at SLU. Became an All-Conference performer for the first time in the Southland during the 2025 indoor season after winning a bronze medal in the 400-meter dash and a silver medal as part of the 4x400-meter relay team.
 
Marvellous Asemota, who was a record breaker during the indoor season, will be looking to make her mark in outdoor after losing the end of her 2024 season which cost her a chance at becoming an All-Conference performer in the short sprints.
 
After this weekend's pair of meets, Southeastern returns to action next Saturday in Hattiesburg, Miss. at the Southern Miss Invitational.
 
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
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