March 20, 2008

Javelin standouts Chris Hill and John Walledom didn't return to the McNeese State track and field team this season.

Was coach Brendon Gilroy worried?

He shouldn't have been as last week rookies David Richardson and Ben Chretien proved that they will be sufficient replacements.

The two finished two-three in the event at the Northwestern State relays, both posting marks in their first collegiate meet that qualified them for the NCAA regionals.

The two return to action on Saturday when McNeese will host is annual Cowboy Relays at the McNeese Track.

"We had signed David to a scholarship and we figured on him being a good collegiate javelin thrower," Gilroy said. "We have been surprised with the development of Ben so quickly."

Chretien came to McNeese on an academic scholarship and it was only after talking to Gilroy that he decided to walk on to the squad.

Their two opening throws - 213-6 for Richardson and 204-1 for Chretien - put them among the Southland Conference early leaders.

Richardson is out of Sam Houston High where last season he won a district title and placed second in the event at the state meet.

He's only in his third year as a javelin thrower.

"Hadn't really thought about throwing the javelin until our track coach asked me to come throw," said Richardson who was playing football (linebacker) and baseball (first base) at the school. "He saw me dunk a basketball and thought I might have the explosiveness to be a javelin thrower."

Chretien, out of Elton High, competed in football and basketball as well as track and even though finishing fifth in the state meet, had only a career best throw of 170 in high school.

"He reminds me a lot of Shane Curlee who I coached at Iowa High School," Gilroy said of Chretien. "Shane, who now coaches at Welsh High, went on to Northwestern State where he threw 218.

Ben Chretien has gone 204-1 in the javelin this spring.

"I think that Ben has a lot of potential."

After posting NCAA regional qualifying marks, both Richardson and Chretien are pursuing other goals this season.

Richardson feels that 225 is within his reach this season while Chretien is hoping for 215.

Both would also like to finish among the top three in the event at the SLC meet this spring. A year ago, the winning distance in the javelin at the championship meet was 237-1 while 209 took fourth place and 198-6 finished sixth.

COWBOY RELAYS: This year's event will be short on collegiate teams since there is another meet scheduled on the same day in the state - one at Louisiana-Lafayette. Northwestern State will send a full team to the Cowboys Relays while Nicholls State is expected to enter its women's team.

A year ago inclement weather hampered the running of the Cowboy Relays.

Last year individual champions who will compete again this year are McNeese's John Jamail in the shot put, Freddie Hannie in the hammer and Marc Dillon in the 100 meter dash.

High school divisions for boys and girls will also be run at the same time.

ADMISSION CHARGE: Admission to the track meet will be $5 with a baseball game thrown in free. For the price of one admission, fans can see both the track meet and the baseball game which has a 1 p.m. start at Cowboy Diamond and features McNeese against Nicholls State. Fans will be able to go back and forth to both events.

COWBOY RELAYS TIMETABLE

High School Division Field Events

8:00 AM Javelin HS Boys Four attempts

8:00 AM Shot Put HS Girls Four attempts

8:00 AM Triple Jump HS Boys Four attempts

8:00 AM Long Jump HS Girls Four attempts

9:30 AM Shot Put HS Boys Four attempts

9:30 AM Javelin HS Girls Four attempts

9:30 AM Long Jump HS Boys Four attempts

9:30 AM Triple Jump HS Girls Four attempts

9:30 AM Pole Vault HS Girls Final

11:00 AM Discus HS Girls Four attempts

11:00 AM High Jump HS Boys Final

12:30 PM Discus HS Boys Four attempts

12:30 PM High Jump HS Girls Final

12:30 PM Pole Vault HS Boys Final

College Division Field Events

11:00 AM Hammer Women Trials & Finals

12:00 PM Hammer Men Trials & Finals

2:00 PM Shot Put Women Trials & Finals

2:00 PM Triple Jump Women Trials & Finals

2:00 PM Javelin Women Trials & Finals

2:00 PM Long Jump Men Trials & Finals

3:00 PM Pole Vault Women Final

3:00 PM Shot Put Men Trials & Finals

3:00 PM Long Jump Women Trials & Finals

3:00 PM Triple Jump Men Trials & Finals

3:00 PM Javelin Men Trials & Finals

4:00 PM Discus Women Trials & Finals

4:00 PM High Jump Women Final

4:30 PM Pole Vault Men Final

5:00 PM Discus Men Trials & Finals

5:00 PM High Jump Men Final

Running Events

11:00 am (all running events begin)

4x200m Relay Girls/Boys

1500m Women/Men

1600m Girls/Boys

110mH Men/Boys

100m H Girls/Women

100m All Divisions

800m All Divisions

4x100m All Divisions

400m All Divisions

400m H Men/Women

300m H Boys/Girls

200m All Divisions

3200m Girls/Boys

3000m Steeplechase Women/Men

4x400m All Divisions

David Richardson (left) and Ben Chretien will be favorites in the javelin throw at the Cowboy Relays on Saturday.