HOUSTON – Julian Forde's 14h fastest 60m time in the nation highlighted a strong finish by the Louisiana Tech track and field teams at the Robert Platt Invitational at Yeoman Fieldhouse on Saturday.
 
Forde ran a 6.62 in the finals of the 60m to not only take home the gold but also moved into the top time in Conference USA. His time came just two hours after finishing with a 6.65 in the semis to qualify with the fastest time heading into the finals.
 
Tonie-Ann Forbes has been one of the best in the 60-meter hurdles and didn't disappoint. She improved her mark with an 8.29 for a bronze and move into No. 39 on the NCAA performance list.
 
Eight other Bulldogs finished in the top 10 in their respective event, with three more setting personal best.
 
Mateo Smith improved his conference-leading mark in the long jump with his third attempt, netting him a distance of 23'8.75''.
 
Shatalya Dorsett improved her 60m time by 0.01 seconds with a 7.49 to take sixth. Rodney Heath Jr. was the other Bulldog inside the top 10 in the event, running a 6.75 for fifth. Nike Praetzel finished fifth in the 60m hurdles by running an 8.64.
 
Reigning CUSA Freshman of the Week, Valentino Rudolph continues to have a strong rookie campaign for the Bulldogs. Rudolph finished third in a field of 80 athletes with a time of 21.40. For the women, Saran Kouyate set a new season-best time of 24.57 to finish 10thg out of 100 runners.
 
The men's and women's 4x400 teams finished third. The women's team of Jamara Patterson, Osaretin Usenbor, Nia Wiley, and Kouyate was the fastest college team at the meet, finishing behind Athletics TX by only two seconds.
 
QUOTEABLES
Head Coach Brian Johnson
"I am truly proud of how we competed this weekend. We are starting to get into championship shape with 30 days to go. We had numerous people step up over the last two days."
 
UP NEXT
Louisiana Tech will travel to Fayetteville, Ark. for the Tyson Invitational from Feb. 9-10 at the Randal Tyson Track Center. 
 
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 Events Results


Long Jump | Women 
Tia Reder (19th) | 5.39m (17'8.25'')
 
Long Jump | Men
Mateo Smith (7th) | 7.23m (23'8.75'')
Cobe Johnson (24th) | 6.74m (22'1.5'')
 
LA Tech Athlete Running Events
 
60m Semis | Men's
Julian Forde | 6.65Q
Rodney Heath Jr. | 6.73q
Mateo Smith | 6.90
 
60m Finals | Men's
Julian Forde (1st) | 6.62 PR
Rodney Heath Jr. (5th) | 6.75

60m Semis | Women's
Tonie-Ann Forbes | 7.52q
Shatalya Dorsett | 7.53q
 
60m Finals | Women's
Shatalya Dorsett (6th) | 7.49 PR
 
60m H Semis | Women's
Tonie-Ann Forbes | 8.43Q
Nike Praetzel | 8.69q
 
60m H Finals | Women's
Tonie-Ann Forbes (3rd) | 8.29 PR
Nike Praetzel (5th) | 8.64
 
60m H Semis | Men's
Tibet Sancak | 8.41
 
800m | Men's
Evan Taylor (45th) | 2:03.08
 
200m | Women's
Saran Kouyate (10th) | 24.57
Chanel Honeywell (23rd) | 24.99
Nike Praetzel (29th) | 25.14 PR
Nia Wiley (40th) | 25.47
Faith Tarver (42nd) | 25.50
Jamara Patterson (48th) | 25.57 PR
Osaretin Usenbor (53rd) | 25.71
Jenaia Williams (66th) | 26.13
 
200m | Men's
Valentino Rudolph (3rd) | 21.40
Marshall Ellis (34th) | 22.24
Tim Rummelhagen (35th) | 22.26
Devin Walton (36th) | 22.32
Karo Oghomi (41st) | 22.42
Laeden Tucker (49th) | 22.58
Jacob Phillips (60th) | 22.93
 
4x400 | Women's
Jamara Patterson, Osaretin Usenbor, Nia Wiley, Saran Kouyate (3rd) | 3:45.51
 
4x400 | Men's
Cullen Hronek, Tim Rummelhagen, Marshall Ellis., Valentino Rudolph (3rd) | 3:17.13
Desmyn McCall, Jacob Phillips, Jamie Sancho, Tibet Sancak (10th) | 3:26.48