May 9, 2008

Huntsville, TX - Second place efforts by Carlese Franklin and Julie Buller led McNeese State during the opening day of the Southland Conference track and field championship meet here Friday.

Franklin placed second in the men's javelin throw and Buller was second in the women's javelin.

Their efforts along with additional help from teammates in each of the events put both the Cowboys and the Cowgirls among the leaders in the team standings after one day.

The Cowboys totaled 29 points for the first day and were in first place, leading second place Texas State by 16 points. Stephen F. Austin had 12 points, Sam Houston State 10 and UTSA and Northwestern State seven each.

In the women's division, the Cowgirls had 13 points for third place.

Franklin went 199-8 for his second place in the javelin and was followed by teammates Ben Chretien in third place at 196-4 and David Richardson in fourth place at 194-3. Richardson competed with a shoulder injury.

In the women's javelin, Buller posted a career best throw of 135-4 for her runnerup finish while teammate Amanda LeJeune placed fourth at 123-1.

Julie Buller finished second in the women's javelin.

Freddie Hannie, who holds the school record, finished third in the hammer with a throw of 188-9 which is just shy of his standard. John Jamail added points with a fifth place showing of 172-3.

"It was a good first day for us," McNeese coach Brendon Gilroy said. "I was really pleased with the efforts in those three events."

Those were the only events that McNeese had entries in on the first day as no Cowgirl competed in the hammer throw and no Cowboy or Cowgirl were entered in the 10,000 meter run.

The meet continues through Sunday. Prelims are mainly scheduled for Saturday but there will be finals for the Cowboys in the shot put, long jump and steeplechase and for the Cowgirls in the shot put and high jump.