Walter P. Ledet Track and Field Complex
The Northwestern State track team competed on a cinder oval in old Demon (Football) Stadium until the early 1970s, when the stadium underwent major renovations. A new facility exclusively for track and field was constructed adjacent to the football stadium and opened in 1977. The track was resurfaced in 1987 and 1995, but drainage problems near the third turn resulted in damage that prevented its use for home meets from 2002-06, although NSU was able to train at the track for all but one fall. The facility underwent a redesign, relocating some event venues and enhancing others, with installation of a world-class track, and reopened for competition for the 2007 season. The track was completed at a 
cost of $1.1 million, featuring a Mondo Super X Surfacing System 12mm thickness.
The project was a joint effort between NSU and the City of Natchitoches.
Regional Construction of Natchitoches was the general contractor completing the installation.
The complex is named after legendary NSU athlete and coach Walter Ledet.
Ledet was the first All-American athlete in the history of Northwestern State University, making the All-American football team in 1938. After his graduation, he became an assistant football and track coach, then was named the head track coach in 1952 and built a program which dominated the state for more than a decade. He guided the Demons to five straight Gulf States Conference chamionships from 1953-57. He retired as track coach in 1964.
He was among the inaugural class of inductees for the Graduate N Club Hall of Fame in 1969 and was elected to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1995. He was also selected as a member of the NSU Top 100 Football Players of the Century in 2007.
Walter P. Ledet Complex Records
MEN
Event Athlete (School) Mark/Time Date
100 Meters Ronnie Powell (NSU) 10.13 4/25/1998
200 Meters Elston Cawley (UTA) 20.37 5/15/2000
400 Meters Leonard Byrd (UTSA) 44.88 5/18/1996
800 Meters Bill Jones (UTA) 1:49.49 4/30/1985
1500 Meters Russell Mangum (ULM) 3:47.89 5/17/1986
3000 Steeple Frank Monabello (Lamar) 8:53.60 3/8/1980
5000 Meters John Sharp (Okahoma State) 14:19.98 3/15/1980
10,000 Meters Randy Arias (Texas State) 31:13.64 5/13/2000
110 Hurdles Kevin Ellis (SFA) 13.68 5/18/1996
400 Hurdles McClinton Neal (UTA) 50.25 4/30/1988
Decathlon Mario Sategna (Unattached) 7920 5/11/1998
High Jump Brian Brown (Souther Cal Cheetahs) 7-6 4/27/1996
Shot Put Frank Cate (La. Tech) 65-3.75 3/8/1986
Javelin Breaux Greer (ULM) 255-1 3/10/1997
Long Jump Andre Ester (ULM) 26-7 5/11/1988
Discus James Parman (ULM) 192-2 5/11/1988
Rick Verline (ULM) 192-2 4/25/1992
Triple Jump Kenta Bell (Unattached) 56-6.75 4/28/2000
Pole Vault Geoffrey Fairbanks (Texas State) 18-1.5 5/15/2000
4x100 Relay Louisiana Tech 39.34 5/11/1988
4x200 Relay Northwestern State 1:23.90 5/10/1984
4x400 Relay Louisiana-Lafayette 3:07.17 5/11/1988
4x800 Relay Louisiana-Monroe 7:30.25 3/14/1981
Sprint Medley Northwestern State 3:22.49 3/7/1990
Distance Medley Louisiana-Lafayette 9:53.80 3/14/1981
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WOMEN
Event Athlete (School) Mark/Time Date
100 Meters Tameka Roberts (UTSA) 11.32 5/18/1996
200 Meters Christine Amertil (SLU) 23.12 5/15/2000
400 Meters Christine Amertil (SLU) 52.77 5/15/2000
800 Meters Janice Turner (Texas State) 2:08.60 5/18/1996
1500 Meters Janice Turner (Texas State) 4:33.38 5/18/1996
3000 Meters Sita Waru (McNeese State) 9:46.38 5/14/2000
5000 Meters Sita Waru (McNeese State) 17:24.78 5/15/2000
10,000 Meters Stacy Poole (UTSA) 35:49.08 5/16/1996
100 Hurdles Cheryl Henry (ULM) 13.56 3/8/1986
400 Hurdles Yamelis Ortiz (Lamar) 58.17 5/15/2000
Heptathlon Jennifer Hoppe (SFA) 5288 5/14/2000
High Jump Jacqueline Canton (NSU) 5-11.25 4/27/2001
Shot Put Marsha French (ULM) 51-1 5/17/1996
Javelin Samantha Chesson (McNeese State) 164-5 5/14/2000
Long Jump Marita Hunt (Unattached) 21-8.25 4/25/1998
Discus Jo Jo Harris (Southern) 170-0 4/27/1996
Triple Jump Cheryl Henry (ULM) 42-0 3/8/1986
Pole Vault Randi Opperman (LSU) 11-5.75 4/27/2001
4x100 Relay Ranger Junior College 45.49 4/24/1999
4x200 Relay Northwestern State 1:36.75 3/4/2000
4x400 Relay Grambling 3:40.28 3/8/1986
4x800 Relay Stephen F. Austin 9:35.02 3/10/1993
Sprint Medley Stephen F. Austin 1:46.07 3/10/1993
Distance Medley Louisiana-Monroe 12:18.33 3/11/1992
