Outdoor Track & Field Begins 2023 Season This Weekend

Friday, March 17

Lafayette, Louisiana

Tulane University

University of Louisiana

2023 - Outdoor Track - Preview -Louisiana Classics

Outdoor Track & Field Begins 2023 Season This Weekend

Mar 16, 2023 | Track & Field

Live Meet Results

NEW ORLEANS – The Tulane outdoor track & field program beings the 2023 season at the Louisiana Classics this weekend in Lafayette. The meet is being hosted at the Ragin' Cajuns Track Complex starting on Friday at 3 p.m. with the field event of the women's javelin. The track events on Friday begin with the women's 3000m steeplechase at 6 p.m. Saturday's full day of action starts at 10 a.m. with the men's hammer.

The program is expected to send men's team members Matthew Remondet (javelin), Parker Samuelson (100m, pole vault), Donie Devane (800m, 1500m), Tucker Poshard (800m, 1500m), Roman Schrader (1500m, 400m), Jamie Polakoff (800m, 1500m), Iker Yturralde (800m), Bethwel Tum (1500m), Charlie McLawhorn (800m, 1500m), Adam Aldahir (800m, 1500m), Jalen St. Fort (1500m), Zander Dunbar (400m), Francisco Roman III (shot put, 100m, 400m) and Jon Lloyd (javelin). For the women, the program is expected to send Olivia Hicks (high jump), Abigail Heck (400m), Alex Sharp (1500m), Ashley Horwitz (800m, 1500m), Alexis Esteves (400m), Cosette Fleury (pole vault), Kristina Leggas (pole vault), Kate Sander (pole vault), Megan Fitzgerald (pole vault), Alexandra Potts (pole vault), Kara Steele (triple jump), Shamiso Zihumo (100m, triple jump), Kaia Todd (javelin, 200m, triple jump, 100m hurdles), Margot Temines (javelin, 200m, 100m hurdles), Tolu Ajayi (100m, 400m), Alyssa Taylor (100m, 200m, 400m), Maren Butler (discus, shot put), Bella Gonzalez (discus, shot put), Emma Simons (discus, shot put), Norah Bice (javelin, discus, shot put), Kara Schiek (javelin), Ashley Trester (discus), Patricija Ozolina (javelin, 200m, 100m hurdles), Lilian Grant (1500m), Reese Ragland (800m, 1500m), Harper Shaw (800m, 1500m), Macy Turcotte (1500m) and Laura Fodor (javelin, 200m, 100m hurdles).

The other schools competing this weekend include Dillard, Lamar, Louisiana, McNeese State, UNO, Nicholls State, Southeast Louisiana, ULM and Xavier University of Louisiana

Last time out, Kristen O'Handley placed seventh for Tulane in the Pentathlon on March 10 with a school record 4,277 points to earn All-American honors at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. It was her fourth time breaking the school record for points in the Pentathlon on the season and her third time with over 4,000 points. She set three personal-bests at the NCAA Indoor Championship meet in the 60m hurdles (8.37), the high jump (1.78m) and the 800m (2:15.05). Her other marks in the Pentathlon were an 11.62m in the shot put and 5.67m in the long jump.

She is Tulane's first Indoor All-American since 2016 when Lilla McMillan placed 14th in the 400m. She is the school's first-ever Pentathlon All-American. O'Handley is the school's first Track & Field All-American since 2019 when Rebekah Markel placed 14th during outdoor season in the pole vault. Overall, O'Handley is the 38th Track & Field All-American the school has had either during indoor or outdoor season and the 13th woman to ever accomplish the feat during indoor season.

O'Handley won the Pentathlon at the 2023 American Athletic Conference (AAC) Indoor Championships on February 24. She set a meet and conference record in winning the event with 4,175 points. It was also her second time being All-AAC in the indoor Pentathlon in her Tulane career. For her outstanding individual efforts, she was also named the 2023 AAC Most Outstanding Field Performer of the championship meet two weeks ago.

The others Tulane student-athletes that placed in the top three to earn All-AAC honors this year include Mackenzie Callahan (2nd – mile – 4:48.93), Kara Steele (1st – triple jump – 13.07m) and Victoria Robinson (2nd – 800m – 2:08.58)

The team's fourth place finish at the AAC Indoor Championships for the Tulane is the highest-ever finish for the program in the conference, a jump of four spots from the 2022 finish and the highest team placing for the program since 1999 when Tulane was a still a member of Conference USA. Over the course of both days of the championships, Tulane accumulated two event wins in the finals and four top-three medal finishes. Tulane earned 2.0 points in the final NCAA Indoor Poll Rankings to place No. 43 nationally. The end of the season ranking for the Green Wave was the highest for the program since 2007 when the team finished 41st. Overall it was the fourth-highest finish in the school's history for the women's indoor program behind 2007 (41st), 2001 (38th) and 1999 (16th).

The women's program ended the 2023 campaign with 13 athletes that ranked among the top 10 in the AAC in an indoor event in, Victoria Robinson – 2nd – 800m, Janae Dean – 5th – 800m, Mackenzie Callahan – 2nd – mile, Kristen O'Handley – 8.39 - 60m hurdles, 4x400m relay – 5th, distance medley relay – 5th, Kristen O'Handley – 10th – high jump, Alexandra Potts – 6th – pole vault, Kara Steele – 1st – triple jump, Maren Butler – 4th – shot put, Kristen O'Handley – 1st – Pentathlon, Margot Temines – 3rd – Pentathlon and Laura Fodor – 8th – Pentathlon.

The men's indoor program ended the 2023 campaign with four athletes ranking among the top 10 in the AAC in Roman Schrader – 9th – 800m, Aaron Gilliam – 10th – mile, Bradley Makuvire – 7thh – 5000m, and 4x400m relay – 8th,

Next, the Green Wave continues outdoor season from March 23-25 at the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, N.C.
 
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