Track Ties St. Augustine for Second in District, Looks Ahead to Regionals

Posted April 22, 2019 / Last updated April 25, 2019

The Jesuit track & field team made an excellent showing and left it all on the track at the District 9-5A Championships held on Tuesday, April 16, at Tad Gromley. The Jays battled it out against John Curtis and St. Augustine for the top spot. However, Curtis was able to edge everyone out by nabbing points from almost every event with majority of their runners placing first and second for a total of 130 points. Jesuit and St. Augustine finished in a tie for second with 113 points each.

Forty of Jesuit’s points was earned by four Blue Jays who each placed first in their events. Senior Jack Battaglia dominated the javelin throw with a new personal record (PR) of 174-03.00 feet the earned him first place. Sophomore Aiden Devine also stepped up to the top spot with a new PR in the pole vault clearing well over 14-00.00 feet. Senior Jacob Torres sailed smoothly over the 300-meter hurdles with a top time of 40.15. Last, but not least, was sophomore Hunter Rousselle who surprised everyone by passing 6 other runners in the last 100 meters of the 400-meter dash to win with PR of 51.47.

Through the Lens…

Jacob Torres soars over the hurdles to a first-place finish.

View the 2019 District 9-5A Championships – Photo Gallery

By the Numbers…

Results in the top 6:

Event	Place	Athlete	Time or Distance	Points Earned
Javelin	1	Jack Battaglia (Sr.)	174-03.00 ft (PR)	10
Pole Vault	1	Aiden Devine (So.)	14-00.00 ft. (PR)	10
400 Meter Dash	1	Hunter Rousselle (So.)	51.47 (PR)	10
300 Meter Hurdles	1	Jacob Torres (Sr.)	40.15	10
Triple Jump	2	Matthew Marsiglia (Jr.)	40-00.50 ft	8
110 Meter Hurdles	2	Jacob Torres (Sr.)	15.38	8
4×800 Meter Relay	2	Matthew LaCour (Sr.) Luke LaCour (Jr.) Scott McKeough (Sr.) Matthew DeJean (Sr.)	28:18.64	8
4×200 Meter Relay	2	Jon Blatcher (Sr.) Ashton Perkins (Sr.) Jacob Torres (Sr.) Hunter Rousselle (So.)	1:31.13	8
Shot Put	3 (tied)	Perry Ganci (Sr.)	43-02.00 ft	5
Javelin	3	Scott McKeough (Sr.)	139-01 ft	6
4×400 Meter Relay	3	Jon Blatcher (Sr.) Hunter Rousselle (So.) William Hawkins (Sr.) Matthew Perschall (Jr.)	3:32.99	6
Long Jump	4	Jacob Torres (Sr.)	21-02.00 ft	4
Triple Jump	4	Robert McMahon (Sr.)	39-08.00 ft	4
4×100 Meter Relay	4	Jon Blatcher (Sr.) Ashton Perkins (Sr.) Vincent LoGiudice (So.) Pierce Westbrook (Jr.)	44.17	4
Discus	5	Perry Ganci (Sr.)	112-04.00	2
800 Meter Run	5	Matthew DeJean (Sr.)	52:07.46	2

Team Results:

Team	Place	Points Earned
John Curtis	1	130
Jesuit	2 (tied)	113
St. Augustine	2 (tied)	113
Brother Martin	4	93
Holy Cross	5	65
Archbishop Rummel	6	44

On the Horizon…

The top four qualifiers of each district race move on to regionals. Eighteen of Jesuit’s runners will travel to Thibodaux High School on Thursday, April 25, to compete in the LHSAA Class 5A Region 3 Championships where the top 3 finishers of each race will qualify for state.

Galleries

Track & Field, District 9-5A Championship, April 16, 2019

...cheer on the 400x100 runners.
Jacob Torres soars over the hurdles to a first-place finish.
The team takes a breather before the next big race.
Coach Ruday and the team celebrate Hunter Rouselle's excellent race.
Hunter Rouselle gets a high five for his first place finish.
...leaves everyone in his dust.
Hunter Rouselle turns up the heat and...
Hunter Rouselle makes his move in the last 100 meters of the 400-meter dash and passes 6 other runners.
Willie Robinson keeps pace with Rummel on the last 100 of the 400-meter dash.
The team huddles in between races to talk strategy.
Ashton Perkins and Pierce Westbrook take their marks as they wait for the start of the race...
The Blue Jays in the stands turn up the volume and...
Jon Blatcher hands off the baton to Ashton Perkins in the first exchange of the 400x100 meter relay.
James Gegenheimer pushes through the last stretch of the 800-meter run.
Matthew DeJean keeps pace with lead pack in the 800-meter run.
James Gegenheimer and Matthew DeJean beginning the first leg of the 800-meter run.
The 800-meter runners line up in a staggered start.
The team's spirits are high as they stay at the top of the pack.
...charging ahead to the front.
...and they are off...