Xavier Nuggets' Rolland, Fakler stand out at LSU Alumni Gold

Catherine Fakler

Devinn Rolland

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Xavier University of Louisiana's Devinn Rolland and Catherine Fakler produced two of the Gold Nuggets' best performances of the season in the LSU Alumni Gold track and field meet Saturday.

Rolland, in the B-section of the women's 200-meter run, placed sixth out of 22 runners in 24.66 seconds and finished ahead of 15 runners from NCAA Division I. It was the fourth time this season that Rolland met the A-standard for the NAIA National Championships in this event, and it was her second fastest time this season.

Fakler recorded the Gold Nuggets' fastest time of the season in the women's 1,500-meter run, 4:43.92. She placed fourth out of 15 runners in the B-section of that event and finished ahead of 10 NCAA D-I runners. But Fakler missed qualifying for the nationals by less than 1½ seconds. The NAIA's B-standard is 4:42.50, and the A-standard is 4:40.10.

Rolland and Fakler were the Nuggets' lone competitors. The only entrant for the Gold Rush was Christopher Kennie, who finished eighth in the long jump at 6.57 meters (21 feet, 6¾ inches).

This was the final meet of the outdoor season for the XU men, but Rolland and other qualified teammates will compete at the NAIA national meet May 23-25 at Marion. Ind. The Golden Eagle Classic, listed on XU's schedule as an April 27 meet, was canceled because of resurfacing at that facility.

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