LSU, Dillard, ULM and UNO shared the top honors in the 2022 Louisiana Sports Writers Association All-Louisiana Track and Field team announced on Friday.
The top honors were selected on a vote of track and field media relations members from the state schools and voted on by that group. Voters could not vote for nominees from their own schools.
LSU’s Sean “Squirrel” Burrell and Tzuriel Pedigo lead the top honorees on the men’s team on the track and field, respectively, while Apalos Edwards is the state’s top freshman.
Burrell, a native of Zachary, ran a 48.70 to place first for the second consecutive year in the 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA Championships. His time ranked No. 2 in school history and fourth-fastest in collegiate history.
LSU’s Pedigo shattered his own school record in the javelin at the NCAA Championships, earning the bronze with a throw of 258-10. He previously broke the school record that had stood since 1987, with a throw of 253-9 at the Texas Relays in March.
In winning the award for true or redshirt freshman, Edwards also earned a third-place finish in the triple jump at the NCAA with a personal best of 53-9.25. He was named to the All-SEC second team and league
On the women’s side, the top honorees are: LSU pole vaulter Lisa Gunnarsson in the field, sprinter Favour Ofili on the track, Morgan Smalls the top newcomer and Dennis Shaver, the team’s Coach of the Year.
Ofili set a collegiate record in the 200-meters with a time of 21.96, also making her the fastest runner in Nigerian history in the event. She finished second at the NCAA Championships in the 200 with a time of 22.05 and completed the sprint triple at the SEC Championships, winning the 100 (10.93 PR), 200 (22.04) and as a member of the 4×100 relay team (42.59).
Ofili was a star for the Tigers women’s track team in her junior season, setting a collegiate record in the 200-meters with a time of 21.96, also making her the fastest runner in Nigerian history in the event. She finished second at the NCAA Championships in the 200 with a time of 22.05. She completed the sprint triple at the SEC Championships, winning the 100 (10.93 PR), 200 (22.04) and as a member of the 4×100 relay team (42.59).
Gunnarsson who took third in the NCAA pole vault with a clearance of 14-7.25. He recorded a personal-best clearance of 15-3 in March, establishing the LSU school record. She also was named the CoSIDA Academic All-America first team for the third time in her career.
Smalls put her name in the record book multiple times in her first season, recording LSU’s fourth best high jump ever (6-0.5) and sixth best long jump (21-7.25). She was named to the All-SEC second team.
Smalls put her name in the record book multiple times in her first season with the Tigers, recording LSU’s fourth best high jump ever (6-0.5) and sixth furthest long jump (21-7.25). She was named to the All-SEC second team.
Shaver, a multiple time LSWA Coach of the Year, led the Lady Tigers to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships.
The All-Louisiana 2022 Track and Field Team:
TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR –
MEN — Sean “Squirrel” Burrell – LSU; WOMEN – Favour Ofili – LSU
FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR –
MEN – Tzuriel Pedigo – LSU; WOMEN – Lisa Gunnarsson – LSU
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
MEN – Apalos Edwards – LSU; WOMEN (TIE) – Kevell Byrd – Dillard; Eunice Ilunga Mbuyi – ULM
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Men – Joshun Noel – Dillard; WOMEN (TIE) – Morgan Smalls, LSU; Alexandra Weir – UNO
COACH OF THE YEAR
Men – Nile Legania – Dillard: WOMEN – Dennis Shaver, LSU
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