FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Highlighted by freshman A'riel William's school record mark of 1.78m in the high jump, the Louisiana Tech Track and Field team opened the 2024 indoor season at the Arkansas Invitational on Friday evening inside the Randal Tyson Track Center.
 
Williams' record leap occurred in the first event of the day for Tech, shattering the previous mark of (1.76m) set by Chloe Lautric on Jan. 15, 2016. The Lake Charles, La. native took second overall in the event. 
 
Sophomore Tia Reder was impressive in the women's long jump, finishing in ninth place with a mark of 5.43 meters, just off her personal best of 5.55 that she recorded at the Conference USA Indoor Championships.
 
In the 60-meter hurdle prelims, Freshman Tonie-Ann Forbes broke onto the scene by winning heat one with a time of 8.43 seconds, while Nike Praetzel clocked in at a personal-best 8.70.
 
Forbes earned her second win of the day by blowing away the field in heat four of the Women's 60-meter prelims with a time of 7.46, which placed her third overall in the prelims and advanced her to the 60-meter finals.
 
The men's 60-meter prelims saw Rodney Heath Jr. and Julian Forde advance to the finals with times of 6.75 and 6.80, respectively. Heath edged out Kevin Jackson of Oral Roberts to win heat four of the event. Karo Oghomi was just .4 seconds away from his personal best, with a time of 6.90 in the event.
 
Tech went 8-9-10 in the women's 400-meter courtesy of freshman Osaretin Usenbor, Janaia Williams, and Jamara Patterson, who posted times of 57.14, 57.90, and 58.47, respectively.
 
Tim Rummelhagen paced LA Tech by running the 400 in 49.34 to finish in ninth place. Laeden Tucker was next in 11th with a time of 49.50, while Phillip Gray Jr. followed behind, finishing in 49.58 to take 12th place.
 
Saran Kouyate, Faith Tarver, and Chanel Honeywell finished 3-4-5 in the women's 300. Kouyate set a new personal best with a 39.31 while Tarver crossed at 40.01. Honeywell won heat three with a time of 40.07.
 
Jamie Sancho picked up the first event win of the day with a 34.16 in the men's 300. Heath was not far behind in third at 35.02. Jacob Phillips finished 11th in his first collegiate action with a time of 35.62.
 
Forbes came back for the 60-meter hurdles finals and improved her time to 8.41 to finish fourth. Two races later, Forbes would pick up a second fourth-place finish, this time in the 60-meters with a time of 7.444. She would be .002 seconds behind Rosey Effoing from Arkansas for third.
 
Just hours after setting her personal best in the 60-meter hurdles, Nike Praetzel would improve upon that mark. She would finish with a time of 8.68 for sixth. Praetzel would not get long to rest as the 200 meters would be her next event about 30 minutes later. She would take her heat with a time of 25.36 and finish 12th overall, setting her third PR in as many events.
 
Devin Walton and Marshall Ellis finished in the top 15 on the men's side. Walton had a time of 22.02 for 12th while Ellis crossed at 22.07 for 15th, just .007 seconds behind 13th.
 
The men's and women's 4x400 teams finished out the meet, winning their heats. The women had a time of 3:46.69 for fourth place, and the men crossed at 3:17.16 for fifth.
 
UP NEXT
Louisiana Tech men's & women's Track & Field teams will be back in action next week in Birmingham, Ala., for the KMS Invitational on Sunday, Jan. 21. 
 
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LA Tech Athlete Field Events Results
 
Shot Put | Women's
Johannon Murray (22nd) | 10.90m (35' 9.25'')
 
High Jump | Women's
A'riel Williams (2nd) | 1.78m (5' 10'') SCHOOL RECORD
Jiana Stewartburgess (15th) | 1.65m (5' 5'')
 
Long Jump | Women's
Tia Reder (9th) | 5.43m (17'9.75'')
 
Long Jump | Men's 
Mateo Smith (7th) | 7.13m (23' 4.75'')
Cobe Johnson (11th) | 6.86m (22' 6.25'')
 
Triple Jump | Women's 
Tia Reder (6th) | 11.53m (37' 10'')
 
Triple Jump | Men's 
Cobe Johnson (6th) | 14.42m (47' 3.75'')
 
Weight Throw | Women's 
Elizabeth Sebera (4th) | 16.02m (52' 6.75'')
 
LA Tech Athlete Running Events
 
60m Qualifying | Men's
Cobe Johnson | 7.09
 
60m Prelims | Men's
Rodney Heath Jr. | 6.75 Q
Julian Forde | 6.80 q
Devin Walton | 6.89
Karo Oghomi | 6.90
Mateo Smith | 7.04
 
60m Finals | Men's
Julian Forde (1st) | 6.74
Rodney Heath Jr. | DNS
 
60m Prelims | Women's
Tonie Ann Forbes | 7.46 Q
Shatayla Dorsett | 7.54
Kaylyn Heath | 7.61
Ulanda Lewis | 7.89
 
60m Finals | Women's
Tonie Ann Forbes (4th) | 7.45
 
60m H Qualifying | Men's
Tibet Sancak | 8.30
 
60m H Prelims | Men's
Urijah Williams | 8.57
 
60m H Prelims | Women's
Tonie Ann Forbes | 8.43 Q
Nike Praetzel | 8.70 q PR
Johannon Murray | 9.26
 
60m H Finals | Women's
Tonie Ann Forbes (4th) | 8.41
Nike Praetzel (6th) | 8.68 PR

200m | Men's
Devin Walton (12th) | 22.02
Marshall Ellis (15th) | 22.07
Karo Oghomi (27th) | 22.53
Cullen Hroneck (31st) | 22.82
 
200m | Women's
Nike Praetzel (12th) | 25.36 PR
Nariah Parks (36th) | 26.63

300m | Men's
Jamie Sancho (1st) | 34.16
Rodney Heath Jr. (3rd) | 35.02
Jacob Phillips (11th) | 35.62
 
300m | Women's
Saran Kouyate (3rd) | 39.32 PR
Faith Tarver (4th) | 40.01
Chanel Honeywell (5th) | 40.07
 
400m | Men's
Tim Rummelhagen (9th) | 49.34
Laeden Tucker (11th) | 49.50
Phillip Gray Jr. (12th) | 49.58 
 
400m | Women's
Osaretin Usenbor (8th) | 57.14
Jenaia Williams (9th) | 57.90
Jamara Patterson (10th) | 58.47
Nariah Parks (15th) | 59.43
 
600m | Men's
Micah Pernetter (17th) | 1:23.50
Evan Taylor (18th) | 1:23.71

Men's 4x400 Relay
LA Tech (5th) | 3:17:16
 
Women's 4x400 Relay
LA Tech (4th) | 3:46:69