BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Louisiana Tech men's and women's Track & Field team had an all-around dominant performance Sunday at the KMS Invitational in Birmingham, Ala. LA Tech won eight events, posted 18 combined podium finishes, and set 14 personal bests on the day. 
 
In the field events, Nemoy Cockett got Tech started by winning the men's weight throw with a launch of 17.76m (58' 3.25''). Next, Jiana Stewartburgess followed suit by taking first place in the women's high jump, clearing 1.65m (5' 5'') on her final attempt. Finally, Mateo Smith earned first place comfortably in the men's long jump with a jump of 6.97m (22' 10.5''). 
 
Cockett followed his first-place weight throw with a fourth-place finish in the shot put, throwing 13.16m (43' 2.25''), improving his 12.87m effort last week. Wilson Yates competed in his first collegiate event, throwing an 11.36m (37' 3.25'') in the shot put.
 
Tech also picked up several top-five finishes and showed progress from last week's season-opening meet. Johannon Murray took fourth in women's high jump (1.6m, 5' 3'') and improved her mark of 1.5m from last week. Elizabeth Sebera (15.85m, 52' 0'') and Shania Parkinson (15.74m, 51' 7.75'') finished top four in the women's weight throw, with Parkinson registering a PR. 
 
Tech's women grabbed four of the top eight spots in the women's shot put, including Shania Parkinson, reaching the podium to take third with a throw of 12.53m (41' 1.5'').
 
In her first collegiate event, freshman Macy McLean grabbed second place in the women's pole vault with a jump of 3.2m (10' 6''). 
 
LA Tech took four of the top seven finishes in the women's long jump, with DaLoria Boone reaching the podium and collecting third with a leap of 5.51m (18' 1.0''). Tia Reder also finished top five in the women's triple jump with a 10.98m (36' 0.25''). 
 
On the track, Tech faired just as well and picked up their win of the day, with freshman Laeden Tucker taking the 400m as the only athlete to break the 50-second mark with a 49.77, and Micah Pernetter set a PR with a 51.70, finishing sixth. In the women's 400m, Faith Tarver reached the podium with a third-place finish running a 58.14, while Nariah Parks finished top-five with a 59.13.
 
DaLoria Boone took the women's 60m in an exciting photo finish, squeaking by the slimmest of margins (.002 seconds) with a 7.73. Boone also ran the fastest in prelims and semis, improving each round to take the 60m title. In the men's 60m final, LA Tech took the top four spots, with Marshall Ellis setting a PR with a time of 6.80 to take first place, followed by Gerard Sapena (6.80), Devin Walton (6.84), and Karo Oghomi (6.89). Sapena and Walton also set PRs in the finals. 
 
Tech continued to roll through the track events winning the women's 60m Hurdles and placing three inside the top five. Kayla Watson set a PR with an 8.51 to win the event, while Leah Ellis PR'd with a 9.13 to reach the podium, and Nike Praetzel grabbed a top-five spot with a 9.15. Urijah Williams placed third in the men's 60m H with an 8.41 and set a new PR (8.30) with his qualifying time in the semifinals. 
 
The track events finished with the mid-distance, where Victoria Datta took home first place in the 800m running a 2:23.32, and the 4x400m relays. LA Tech's women (Nariah Parks, Faith Tarver, Ulanda Lewis, Chanel Honeywell) took second place with a time of 3:56.86. 
 
The men's 4x400m capped the day with a third-place showing, with Laeden Tucker, Micah Pernetter, Rodney Heath Jr., and Marshall Ellis putting together a run of 3:21.93. 
 
UP NEXT
Louisiana Tech men's & women's Track & Field teams will head to Lubbock, Texas, for the Texas Tech Open running next Thursday through Saturday, Jan. 26-28. 
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For all the latest in Louisiana Tech Track & Field/Cross Country, follow them on Twitter (@LATechTFXC), Instagram (@LATechTFXC), and Facebook (Louisiana Tech Track & Field/Cross Country).
 
LA Tech Athlete Field Event Results
 
High Jump | Women's
Jiana Stewartburgess (1^st) | 1.65m (5' 5'')
Johannon Murray (4^th) | 1.6m (5' 3'')
Leah Ellis | NH
 
Triple Jump | Women's 
Tia Reder (5^th) | 10.98m (36' 0.25'')
 
Long Jump | Women's
DaLoria Boone (3^rd) | 5.51m (18' 1'')
Pleasant Harris (5^th) | 5.43m (17' 9.75'')
Tia Reder (6^th) | 5.42m (17' 9.5'')
Leah Ellis (7^th) | 5.39m (17' 8.25'')
Johannon Murray | DNS
 
Long Jump | Men's 
Mateo Smith (1^st) | 6.97m (22' 10.5'')
 
Pole Vault | Women's
Macy McLean (2^nd) | 3.2m (10' 6'')
 
Pole Vault | Men's 
Hunter Clayton (7^th) | 3.8m (12' 5.5'')
 
Weight Throw | Women's 
Elizabeth Sebera (3^rd) | 15.85m (52' 0'')
Shania Parkinson (4^th) | 15.74m (51' 7.75'') PR
 
Weight Throw | Men's 
Nemoy Cockett (1^st) | 17.76m (58' 3.25'')
Wilson Yates | ND
 
Shot Put | Women's
Shania Parkinson (3^rd) | 12.53m (41' 1.5'')
Natalie Moten (5^th) | 11.93m (39' 1.75'')
Johannon Murray (6^th) | 10.89m (35' 8.75'')
Leah Ellis (8^th) | 10.29m (33.9.25'')
 
Shot Put | Men's
Nemoy Cockett (4^th) | 13.16m (43' 2.25'')
Wilson Yates (13^th) | 11.36m (37' 3.25'')
 
LA Tech Athlete Running Event Results
 
60m Prelims | Women's
DaLoria Boone | 7.78 Q
Chanel Honeywell | 7.96 Q
Pleasant Harris | DNS
Kaylyn Heath | DNS
Ulanda Lewis | DNS
 
60m Semis | Women's
DaLoria Boone | 7.77 Q
Chanel Honeywell | 8.04
 
60m Finals | Women's
DaLoria Boone (1^st) 7.73
 
60m Prelims | Men's
Rodney Heath Jr. | 6.82 Q
Karo Oghomi | 6.86 Q
Gerard Sapena | 6.88 Q
Marshall Ellis | 6.88 Q
Mateo Smith | 6.90 Q
Devin Walton | 6.96 Q
 
60m Semis | Men's
Rodney Heath Jr. | 6.79 Q
Gerard Sapena | 6.84 Q PR
Marshall Ellis | 6.85 Q PR
Karo Oghomi | 6.88 Q PR
Mateo Smith | 6.90 Q PR
Devin Walton | 6.92 Q PR
 
60m Finals | Men's
Marshall Ellis (1^st) | 6.78 PR
Gerard Sapena (2^nd) | 6.80 PR
Devin Walton (3^rd) | 6.84 PR
Karo Oghomi (4^th) | 6.89
Rodney Heath Jr. | DNS
Mateo Smith | FS
 
400m | Women's
Faith Tarver (3^rd) | 58.14
Nariah Parks (5^th) | 59.13
 
400m | Men's
Laeden Tucker (1^st) | 49.77
Micah Pernetter (6^th) | 51.70 PR
 
60m H Prelims | Women's
Kayla Watson | 8.70 Q PR
Nike Praetzel | 9.20 Q
Leah Ellis | 9.49 Q
 
60m H Finals | Women's
Kayla Watson (1^st) | 8.51 PR
Leah Ellis (4^th) | 9.13 PR
Nike Praetzel (5^th) | 9.15
 
60m H Prelims | Men's
Urijah Williams | 8.30 PR
Desmyn McCall | DNS
 
60m H Finals | Men's
Urijah Williams (3^rd) | 8.41
 
800m | Women's
Victoria Datta (1^st) | 2:23.32
 
800m | Men's
Logan Bailey (15^th) | 2:07.31
Trent Terminie | DNF
 
200m | Women's
Chanel Honeywell | DNS
 
3000m | Women's
Jacquelin LaBerteaux (8^th) | 11:52.16
Lexa Thompson (11^th) | 12:15.82
 
3000m | Men's
Jacob Paulk (17^th) | 10:29.02
 
Women's 4x400 Relay
LA Tech (2^nd) | Nariah Parks, Faith Tarver, Ulanda Lewis, Chanel Honeywell | 3:56.86
 
Men's 4x400 Relay
LA Tech (3^rd) | Laeden Tucker, Micah Pernetter, Rodney Heath Jr., Marshall Ellis | 3:21.93