XU's Rolland stands out again in Louisiana Classics meet

 LAFAYETTE, La. — Xavier University of Louisiana sophomore Devinn Rolland qualified for the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Friday in the women's 200-meter dash, then won the long jump Saturday in the Louisiana Classics meet.

Rolland finished second out of 52 runners, most of them from NCAA Division I schools, in 24.52 seconds in the 200. She exceeded the NAIA's A-qualifying standard in that event by nearly a half-second. McNeese State's Jasmine Webb won in 24.24, and Kala Funderburk of Memphis was third in 24.53.

Rolland jumped 5.69 meters — 18 feet, 8 inches — on her final attempt to win the long jump by 5½ inches over runner-up Tia Mitchell of Louisiana-Lafayette. The victory was her first of the season and the Gold Nuggets' third. Twenty-six competed.

Rolland has reached the NAIA's A-standard in the long jump in all three meets of the outdoor season. She met the B-standard in the 100 a week ago.

Rolland was one of just two female athletes to record a pair of top-two finishes at this meet. The other was McNeese State's La'Shantena Rounds, who placed second in the hammer and shot put.

Also recording XU women's personal bests for the season were Chelsea James in the 100 (12.34) and 200 (26.64), Tayler Louis in the 200 (27.61), Chartia Hurt in the 400 (58.61), Tramaine Shannon in the 400 (1:00.67) and Catherine Fakler in the 1,500 (4:51.30) and 5,000 (18:57.79). For the Gold Rush, Kwame Jackson ran the 5,000 in a season-best 16:46.67.

Fakler placed third in the 5,000, and Christopher Kennie was fifth in the men's long jump (6.48 meters/21-3¼).

There was no team scoring.

Xavier will compete next Friday and Saturday in the LSU Relays at Baton Rouge, La.

Here are all the Xavier results from the Louisiana Classics:


Women
Long Jump: Devinn Rolland, 1st in 5.69 meters (18 feet, 8 inches)
400-Meter Relay: Tayler Louis, Chelsea James, Chartia Hurt, Devinn Rolland, 9th in 49.37
1,500: Catherine Fakler, 6th in 4:51.30
400: Chartia Hurt, 12th in 58.60; Tramaine Shannon, 26th in 1:00.67
200: Devinn Rolland, 2nd in 24.52; Chelsea James, 36th in 26.64; Tayler Louis, 44th in 27.61
100: Chelsea James, 14th in 12.34
5,000: Catherine Fakler, 3rd in 18:57.79


Men
Long Jump: Christopher Kennie, 5th in 6.48 meters (21 feet, 3¼ inches)
5,000: Kwame Jackson, 9th in 16:46.67

Results (PDF file)

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
XULAATHLETICS