LSU track and field athletes honored

• Compiled from university news releases
• Published: May 27, 2008 - UPDATED: 6:30 a.m.

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As the LSU track and field teams prepare for this weekend’s NCAA Mideast Regional Championships, 22 student-athletes were honored by the SEC on Monday as the league office announced its postseason awards for the outdoor season.

Headlining this year’s honorees were seniors Richard Thompson and Kelly Baptiste, who swept SEC Male and Female Outdoor Runner of the Year honors, while head coach Dennis Shaver was named the SEC Women’s Outdoor Coach of the Year for the second straight season.

In addition, 13 LSU athletes are First-Team All-SEC selections, while six have been named to the second-team and four more have been named to the SEC All-Freshman Team.

Former, future LSU golfers fare well

Former United States Women’s Amateur Champion and LSU golfer Meredith Duncan had her best finish over the weekend on the LPGA tour.

Duncan, from Shreveport, who finished her career in 2002 after winning the women’s amateur in the summer of 2001, finished fifth in the LPGA Corning Classic in Corning, N. Y., with a four-round total of eight-under par 280 (73-68-71-68).

Also, three former LSU players (including Duncan) and one future player have advanced through the first round of qualifying for the 2008 United States Women’s Open Championship that is scheduled for the Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minn., June 26-29. The three must now go through sectional qualifying on June 9 to take the final step toward exempt status for the Open.

Both Melissa and Nicola Eaton, the twins from South Africa who finished their LSU careers in 2007, advanced through local qualifying in Jacksonville, Fla., at the San Jose Country Club.

Duncan advanced to a qualifying spot in a playoff after shooting 83 at the Hamilton Farm Golf Club in Gladstone, N.J.

Incoming freshman Tessa Teachman of Baton Rouge was the medalist at the qualifier at the Sewickley Heights Golf Club in Sewickley, Pa.

Nicholls defeated the Sutherland Sharks 73-63 on Sunday to close out their Australian tour 4-0 in Sydney, Australia.

In the win, the Colonels had five players in double figures with sophomore Dominic Friend leading the way with 16 points. Following Friend was junior Chris Paige with 13