Hinton shines for LSU track at Twilight Meet

LSU sophomore Denise Hinton warmed up for next week’s Southeastern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships by shattering her own school record in the 20-pound weight throw in the LSU Twilight Meet on Friday.

Hinton produced a winning mark of 68 feet, 31/4 inches on her fifth of six throws to highlight action in the meet at the Carl Maddox Field House.

With the big throw, which moved her into eighth place on the NCAA performance list this season, Hinton established a personal best in the event for the sixth straight meet and broke the school mark of 66-111/4 that she set just one week ago at the Tyson Invitational.

Hinton finished more than seven feet ahead of fellow Lady Tiger sophomore Karen Henning, who had two personal bests in placing second. She had a PR of 59-111/4 on her first throw and then recorded a 60-10 on her fourth throw to rise to fourth on the school’s all-time list.

Like Hinton, LSU junior Rynell Parson moved a step closer to qualifying for the NCAA Championships in winning his first collegiate 60 meters title with a personal best.

Parson clocked a time of 6.72 seconds in the prelims to edge teammate Keyth Talley (6.73), then came back with a 6.66 to beat former LSU All-American Gabriel Mvumvure (6.72) to the finish line.

Parson’s time ties him for 13th place on the NCAA list this winter and was the fourth-fastest time ever run by an LSU athlete.

Talley followed with a fourth-place finish in the 60 meters after running 6.75 in the final.

The Tigers and Lady Tigers captured five other event titles.

Senior Barrett Nugent ran a time of 7.78 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles final and took a thrilling win over former Oklahoma All-American Ronnie Ash (7.80), while junior Takeia Pinckney made it a clean sweep of 60 meters titles for LSU with a time of 7.36.

In the field events, senior Rachel Laurent led the way with her win in the women’s pole vault in clearing a seasonal-best of 13-41/2 and freshman Tori Bliss won the women’s shot put with 51-41/4.

Freshman Jeremy Tuttle won the men’s 35-pound weight throw with a toss of 54-4.

The Tigers and Lady Tigers kick off the championship season next weekend with a trip to Lexington, Ky., for the SEC Indoor Championships to be held Feb. 24-26.

The Lady Tigers won the title a year ago, while the men were third.