The outdoor track and field season gets under way Thursday with the annual Shamocus Patton Memorial Benton Tiger Relays, sponsored by the Bossier Federal Credit Union.
Field events begin at 3 p.m. and running events at 4.
Teams scheduled to compete are Airline, Bossier, Parkway, Haughton, Captain Shreve, Natchitoches Central, Ouachita, West Monroe, Ouachita Christian, Minden, Cedar Creek, Lakeside and Pineville.
Once again, there are plenty of talented track and field athletes in Bossier Parish.
Three parish athletes won state championships in the LHSAA indoor meet last Saturday at LSU — Airline’s Jack Wilkes (800) and Jasmyn Carswell (triple jump) and Parkway’s Alison Ringle (1,600).
Three of the four MVPs on The Press-Tribune’s 2012 All-Parish team are back — Ringle, Airline’s Cameron Rice and Louisiana New Tech at Plain Dealing’s Dennisha Chambers.
Rice, a junior, had parish bests of 6-10 in the high jump, 46-6 in the triple jump and 21-11.5 in the long jump last season.
Chambers ranked first in the parish in the long jump (17-6) and second in the triple jump (35-8.5) and high jump (5-0).
Other 2012 All-Parish boys athletes who are expected to be back include Haughton’s Micah Larkins (100, 200), Parkway’s Corey Hamilton (400), Wilkes, Haughton’s Jermichael Bell (110 hurdles), Haughton’s Ty Shilling (javelin), Haughton’s Javonte Woodard (300 hurdles), Benton’s LeAaron Alexander (discus, shot put) and Benton’s Alex Martin (pole vault).
Other 2012 All-Parish girls athletes who were underclassmen last year include Bossier’s Simmone Small (400), Parkway’s Alayna Nevins (800) and Benton’s Madi Sessions (discus).
