By: Doug Ireland/Sports Information Director
NATCHITOCHES – For the second time this decade, Northwestern State's Mike Heimerman has won Coach of the Year honors on the All-Louisiana Collegiate Track and Field Team while 12 slots on the team were filled by NSU competitors.
The team is compiled by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association each summer. The top three performances in each event for men and women earn All-Louisiana status, with individual honors determined by vote of track sports information personnel around the state.
Heimerman was voted the state's women's co-Coach of the Year along with LSU's Dennis Shaver, who was chosen as the top coach on the men's team. Heimerman first won the state women's Coach of the Year honor in 2011, when he led the Lady Demons to their best Southland Conference Outdoors finish, second, and coached NCAA discus champion Trecey Rew Hoover.
This spring, the Lady Demons matched that runner-up finish at the 13-team Southland meet, and set a school record with 112.3 points scored. Eight NSU women qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary Round championships, with javelin thrower Ashley Aldredge repeating as an honorable mention All-American with a 19th-place finish at the national meet in Eugene, Ore.
Heimerman, the overall head coach of the NSU track and field program since Leon Johnson's retirement after the 2013 season, had five athletes post state-best performances this season among the 12 All-Louisiana winners.
Senior twins Aaron and Emmanuel Williams each were tops in Louisiana in their specialties, and also were All-Louisiana in the other horizontal jump.
Aaron Williams was Louisiana's top triple jumper (52-10) and his 25-1 ¼ long jump best was third ranked. Williams, a 2015 indoor All-American, qualified to compete in the USA Olympic Trials.
Emmanuel Williams, who won All-America honors for the second time in his career by finishing seventh at the NCAA Outdoors in June, had the state's best long jump (25-8 ½) and second-best triple jump (51-9).
Lady Demon senior Rechelle Bessard had the No. 1 discus throw, a 177-4 mark. She also picked up third-team All-Louisiana honors with a 181-3 hammer throw.
Demon junior George Flaviano was Louisiana's fastest in the men's 400 meter hurdles with his 51.21 winning time at the Southland Outdoors. Sophomore Cedric Paul won the Southland Outdoors shot put title for NSU, and led the state with a 57-6 ½ toss earlier in the season at the Leon Johnson NSU Invitational.
Two Demon relay teams ranked second in the state. The All-America 4x100 foursome of Amir James, Micah Larkins, Flaviano and Ty Shilling ran a season-best 39.69 while finishing 15th at the NCAA Outdoors. James, Larkins, Gabriel White and Flaviano earned second-team All-Louisiana honors in the 4x400 relay with a 3:10.18 best mark.
NSU senior Por'sha Thomas, who closed out a remarkable career by sweeping the Southland's indoor and outdoor triple jump titles for the third consecutive year, was the second-team All-Louisiana recipient in her specialty. She had a personal-best, wind-legal 42-5 ¼ mark at an LSU meet, and went two inches further on a wind-aided mark while winning the Southland Outdoor title.
Larkins, the Southland 100 meter dash champion as a freshman, picked up third-team All-Louisiana award in that event with a season-best legal time of 10.28. He won the Southland in a wind-aided 10.15 and was an honorable mention All-American in the event.
The complete list of LSWA Track and Field Bests as submitted by school media relations offices in the state:
MEN
100 METERS
Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, LSU/Jr./10.09/Texas Invitational/April 16, 2016
Jermey Hicks, Louisiana Tech/Jr./10.23/LSU Alumni Gold/April 23, 2016
Micah Larkins, Northwestern State/Fr./10.28/McNeese Relays/March 12, 2016
200 METERS
Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, LSU/Jr./19.95/SEC Championships/May 12, 2016
Renard Howell, LSU/Jr./20.15/SEC Championships/May 12, 2016
Tinashe Mutanga, LSU/Jr./20.50/Texas Invitational/April 16, 2016
400 METERS
Fitzroy Dunkley, LSU/Sr./45.06/NCAA Championships/June 10, 2016
Michael Cherry, LSU/Jr./45.11/NCAA Championships/June 10, 2016
Cyril Grayson, SLU/Sr./45.91/LSU Invitational/April 30, 2016
800 METERS
Blair Henderson, LSU/Jr./1:47.30/LSU Invitational/April 30, 2016
Cyril Grayson, LSU/Sr./1:49.35/Miami Twilight Invitational/March 25, 2016
Jack Wilkes, LSU/So./1:49.40/LSU Invitational/April 30, 2016
1500 METERS
Blair Henderson, LSU/Jr./3:45.20/LSU Invitational/April 30, 2016
Dajour Braxton, LSU/Fr./3:46.04/LSU Invitational/April 30, 2016
Oliver James, McNeese/3:46.81/Bryan Clay Invitational/April 14, 2016
5,000 METERS
Hassan Chepkwony, Grambling/Fr./14:21.67/USM Invitational/April 15, 2016
Moses Aloiloi, Tulane/So./14:24.10/American Championships/May 12, 2016
Dajour Braxton, LSU/Fr./14:26.52/SEC Championships/May 12, 2016
10,000 METERS
Moses Aloiloi, Tulane/So./30:02.99/Penn Relays/April 28, 2016
Enrique Soto, McNeese/Jr./30:10.43/Mt. SAC Relays/April 14, 2016
Nathan Jones, McNeese/So./30:24.36/Mt. SAC Relays/April 14, 2016
110 HURDLES
Jordan Moore, LSU/Jr./13.53/SEC Championships/May 12, 2016
Tramaine Maloney, Louisiana Tech/Sr./13.80/LSU Alumni Golf/April 23, 2016
Michael Nicholls, UNO/Fr./13.91/SLC Championships/May 6, 2016
400 HURDLES
George Flaviano, Northwestern State/Jr./51.21/SLC Championships/May 6, 2016
Andre Phillips, ULM/Jr./52.61/SBC Championships/May 13, 2016
Andre Hewitt, Grambling/Jr./53.16/SWAC Championship/May 6, 2016
3000 STEEPLECHASE
Emmanual Rotich, Tulane/Fr./8:59.90/American Championships/May 16, 2016
Christian Johnson, LSU/Jr./9:09.12/SEC Championships/May 12, 2016
Enock Bor, McNeese/Sr./9:23.71/LSU Alumni Gold/April 23, 2016
4 x 100 RELAY
LSU-Flournoy, Howell, Acy, Mitchell-Blake/38.33/SEC Championships/May 12, 2016
Northwestern State-James, Larkins, Flaviano, Shilling/39.69/NCAA Championships/June 8, 2016
Louisiana Tech-Statham, Hicks, Bradberry, Samuels/40.33/LSU Alumni Gold/April 23, 2016
4 x 400 RELAY
LSU-Bruton, Cherry, Grayson, Dunkley/3.00.38/LSU Alumni Gold/April 23, 2016
Northwestern State-James, Larkins, White, Faviano/3:10.18/Southeastern Inv./March 25, 2016
ULM-Cribbs, Johnson, Demus, Tate/3:12.22/SBC Championships/May 5, 2016
HIGH JUMP
David Parker, Grambling/Fr./7-0.25/SWAC Championships/May 6, 2016
Clarence Robinson, Southeastern/Sr./6-11.75/McNeese Spring Classic/April 9, 2016
Franz Beyer, UL-Lafayette/So./6-11/McNeese Relays/March 12, 2016
POLE VAULT
Devin King, Southeastern Louisiana/So./18-8.25/Texas Relays/March 30, 2016
Kyle Baudoin, UL-Lafayette/Fr./17-5/Texas Relays/March 30, 2016
Cameron Robichaux, LSU/Jr./16-8/Battle on Bayou/April 9, 2016
LONG JUMP
Emmanuel Williams, Northwestern State/Sr./25-8.25/SLC Championships/May 6, 2016
Jemal Parharm, ULM/So./25-8/SBC Championships/May 13, 2016
Aaron Williams, Northwestern State/Sr./25-1.25/UT Arlington Invitational/March 26, 2016
TRIPLE JUMP
Aaron Williams, Northwestern State/Sr./52-10/Johnson Invitational/April 8, 2016
Emmanuel Williams, Northwestern State/Sr./51-9/Mize Invitational/March 18, 2016
Corey Wesley, ULM/Sr./51-6.25/Mize Invitational/March 18, 2016
SHOT PUT
Cedric Paul, Northwestern State/So./57-6.5/Johnson Invitational/April 8, 2016
Kyle Weiss, ULM/So./56-2.5/McNeese Relays/March 12, 2016
Jimmy LeBlanc, Southeastern Louisiana/Sr./55-10.5/LSU Alumni Golf/April 23, 2016
DISCUS
Alton Clay, ULM/Jr./178-6/Miss. State Invitational/April 30, 2016
Jevaughn Shaw, ULM/Jr./174-4/Miss. State Invitational/April 30, 2016
Johnnie Jackson, LSU/Jr./174-2/Miss. State Invitational/April 30, 2016
HAMMER
Johnnie Jackson, LSU/Jr./217-1/Texas Relays/March 30, 2016
David Collins, LSU/Sr./212-2/Texas Invitational/April 16, 2016
Patrick Geers, LSU/Sr./212-0/Miami Twilight Invitational/March 25, 2016
JAVELIN
Donavon Banks, McNeese/Fr./219-2/SLC Championships/May 6, 2016
Bartul Basic, UL-Lafayette/So./218-9/Miss. State Invitational/May 6, 2016
Kyle Zenon, McNeese/So./211-8/Louisiana Classic/March 25, 2016
DECATHLON
Franz Beyer, UL-Lafayette/So./6830/SBC Championships/May 13, 2016
Angus Sinclair, UL-Lafayette/Jr./6584/SBC Championships/May 13, 2016
Jordan Patrick, Louisiana Tech/Fr./6063/C-USA Championships/May 12, 2016
MEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, LSU
MEN'S FIELD ATHELTE OF THE YEAR – Devin King, Southeastern
MEN'S FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Jaron Flournoy, LSU
MEN'S NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR – Michael Cherry, LSU
MEN'S COACH OF THE YEAR – Dennis Shaver, LSU
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WOMEN
100 METERS
Kortnei Johnson, LSU/Fr./11.13/LSU Invitational/April 30, 2016
Mikiah Brisco, LSU/So./11.13/NCAA Championships/June 11, 2016
Jada Martin, LSU/Jr./11.24/LSU Alumni Gold/April 23, 2016
200 METERS
Jada Martin, LSU/Jr./22.41/NCAA East Prelims/May 28, 2016
Kortnei Johnson, LSU/Fr./22.67/NCAA East Prelims/May 28, 2016
Lilla McMillan, Tulane/Sr./23.00/American Championships/May 12, 2016
400 METERS
Lilla McMillan, Tulane/Sr./51.38/American Championships/May 12, 2016
Jasmine Blocker, Tulane/Sr./51.66/American Championships/May 12, 2016
Jada Martin, LSU/Jr./52.94/Hurricane Twilight/March 25, 2016
800 METERS
Morgan Schuetz, LSU/Jr./2:02.29/LSU Alumni Gold/April 23, 2016
Hollie Parker, LSU/Fr./2:08.76/Battle on Bayou/April 9, 2016
Hannah Deworth, LSU/So./2:09.11/SEC Championships/May 12, 2016
1500 METERS
Morgan Schuetz, LSU/Jr./4:20.21/LSU Invitational/April 30, 2016
Hollie Parker, LSU/Fr./4:26.92/Miami Twilight Invitational/March 25, 2016
Erika Lewis, LSU/Fr./4:37.66/Texas invitational/April 12, 2016
5000 METERS
Gemma Bridge, McNeese/Sr./17:10.28/Florida Relays/March 31, 2016
Katja Woelfl, McNeese/So./17:18.31/Florida Relays/March 31, 2016
Emma Newton, Tulane/Fr./17:29.19/Victor Lopez Relays/March 25, 2016
10000 METERS
Gemma Bridge, McNeese/Sr./35:55.93/Mt. SAC Relays/April 14, 2016
Lauren Bartels, Tulane/Fr./36:26.94/Penn Relays/April 28, 2016
Katja Woelfl, McNeese/So./36:55.19/SLC Championships/May 6, 2016
100 HURDLES
Chanice Chase, LSU/Sr./12.90/NCAA Championships/June 11, 2016
Daeshon Gordon, LSU/So./12.99/LSU Alumni Gold/April 23, 2016
Mikiah Brisco, LSU/So./13.02/NCAA East Prelims/May 28, 2016
400 HURDLES
Chanice Chase, LSU/Sr./54.94/NCAA Championships/June 11, 2016
Kymber Payne, LSU/So./56.38/NCAA East Prelims/May 27, 2016
Ka'Lynn Jupiter, LSU/Jr./56.63/NCAA East Prelims/May 27, 2016
3000 STEEPLECHASE
Claire Hodges, UL-Lafayette/Jr./10:49.24/SBC Championships/May 13, 2016
Mckenzie Melius, Tulane/Fr./10:54.59/American Championships/May 12, 2016
Alison Smegal, McNeese/So./11:08.72/LSU Alumni Gold/April 23, 2016
4X100 RELAY
LSU-Brisco, Johnson, Martin, Harvey/42.65/NCAA Championships/June 11, 2016
Grambling-Simon, Carter, Beverly, Jones/44.73/SWAC Championships/May 6, 2016
Tulane-Duckett, McMillan, Brazzel, Blocker/44.89/American Championships/May 12, 2016
4X400 RELAY
LSU-Misher, Martin, Jones, Chase/3:29.82/NCAA Championships/June 11, 2016
Tulane-Duckett, Blocker, Adamson, McMillan/3:36.07/American Championships/May 12, 2016
Grambling-Simons, Carter, Broadnax, Jones/3:42.18/SWAC Championships/May 6, 2016
HIGH JUMP
Shanice Hall, LSU/Sr./5-10/LSU Invitational/April 30, 2016
Chloe Lautric, Louisiana Tech/Jr./5-8.75/Mize Invitational/March 18, 2016
Alex Harrell, UL-Lafayette/Sr./ 5-7.25/SBC Championships/May 13, 2016
POLE VAULT
Morgann Leleux, UL-Lafayette/Sr./14-10/SBC Championships/May 13, 2016
Nicole Casper, McNeese/Sr./13-10/LSU Alumni Gold/April 23, 2016
Mary Carson Pitts, Tulane/Jr./13-5.25/NCAA East Prelims/May 27, 2016
LONG JUMP
Nataliyah Friar, LSU/Jr./20-9/LSU Alumni Gold/April 23, 2016
Mia Adams, Louisiana Tech/Sr./20-7/Mize Invitational/March 18, 2016
Adriunna Brown, ULM/Jr./20-3/SBC Championships/May 13, 2016
TRIPLE JUMP
Nataliyah Friar, LSU/Jr./42-6.75/NCAA East Prelims/May 28, 2016
Porsha Thomas, Northwestern State/Sr./42-5.25/LSU Alumni Gold/April 23, 2016
Tamika Brazzel, Tulane/Sr./42-2.25/American Championships/May 12, 2016
SHOT PUT
Taylor Potts, Tulane/Jr./50-8/American Championships/May 12, 2016
Jermisha Frazier, Southeastern/49-9.25/SLC Championships/May 6, 2016
Kenya Wheeler, Grambling/48-4.75/SWAC Championships/May 6, 2016
DISCUS
Rechelle Bessard, Northwestern State/Sr./177-4/Texas Relays/March 30, 2016
Alexis Gordon, ULM/Jr./158-11/McNeese Relays/March 12, 2016
Rakira Turner, McNeese/Sr./157-0/Louisiana Classic/March 25, 2016
HAMMER
Jermisha Frazier, Southeastern/Sr./207-4/Alabama Relays/March 17, 2016
Sidnie Wilder, LSU/So./183-1/SEC Championships/May 12, 2016
Rechelle Bessard, Northwestern State/181-3/SLC Championships/May 6, 2016
JAVELIN
Rebekah Wales, LSU/Jr./180-7/SEC Championships/May 12, 2016
Daliadiz Ortiz, Tulane/Jr./167-7/Long Beach Invitational/April 15, 2016
Annie Simoneaux, LSU/Sr./165-4/Texas Relays/March 30, 2016
HEPTATHLON
Farydah Inoussa, UNO/Jr./5164/SLC Championships/May 6, 2016
Jasmin Fusilier, UL-Lafayette/Sr./4986/SBC Championships/May 13, 2016
Kaitlyn Moreau, UL-Lafayette/Sr./4869/SBC Championships/May 13, 2016
WOMEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Chanice Chase, LSU
WOMEN's FIELD ATHELTE OF THE YEAR – Morgann Leleux, UL-Lafayette
WOMEN'S FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Kortnei Johnson, LSU
WOMEN'S NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR – Morgann Leleux, UL-Lafayette
WOMEN'S COACH OF THE YEAR – (tie) Mike Heimerman, Northwestern State; Dennis Shaver, LSU
