NATCHITOCHES, La. – Louisiana Tech Track & Field put together several solid performances to start the weekend at Friday's Leon Johnson NSU Invitational in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
 
Louisiana Tech's men swept the top three spots in the men's 1,500m run with Austin Ballow taking home first place with a time of 4:03.03, followed by Josiah Perez (4:03.83) and William Harrell (4:03.84).
 
LA Tech senior Monique Apuakehau set a school record in the women's pole vault competition after she posted a mark of 12-2.75 (3.73m) to finish fourth in the event.
 
Jon Burrell placed third in the javelin on the men's side with a throw of 196-8 (59.95m), while Tyler O'con followed in fifth place with a throw of 181-5 (55.30m).
 
Rhea Thompson also impressed for the Lady Techsters after winning the discus throw with a first-place mark of 161-7 (49.25m). Aliyah Ballott also competed in the discus on the women's side and finished third with a throw of 142-7 (43.47m).
 
Sydney Anderson brought home third place in the women's high jump with a jump of 5-5 (1.65m), while her sister Dominque Anderson placed third in the triple jump with a mark of 39-1.75 (11.93m). Leah Scott followed closely behind in fourth place in the triple jump with a jump of 38-7 (11.76m).
 
LA Tech's Mason Youberg finished second in the men's 3,000m steeplechase with a time of 10:22.00, while Ahmad Young placed second in the men's 110m hurdles with a time of 14.38 (+0.6). In the women's 100m dash, LA Tech sophomore Taylor Shaw posted a second-place finish with a time of 11.87 (+1.2).
 
On Saturday, LA Tech is scheduled to make the short trip down I-20 to compete in the ULM Warhawk Classic, which will begin at 11 a.m. at the Groseclose Track on ULM's campus.
 
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