MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / May 12, 1999

BATON ROUGE – Lutcher’s T.R. Ricks and William Adams made the javelincompetition a family affair at the Class 3A state track and field meet Saturday at LSU’s Bernie Moore Stadium.

Ricks won the state title in the event, throwing 186 feet, seven inches on his second throw of the day. Adams, Ricks’ cousin, was third with a throwof 178-9. Washington-Marion’s Greg Cole placed second with a throw of183-9.

“It feels good,” Ricks said of the title.

“I didn’t think it was going to be like it was. Luckily I got one good throwand I’m happy it was the best one. I didn’t think I was going to get a statechampionship as a junior. I want to come back next year and get it again.”Lutcher, which also got second and fourth place finishes from Kenneth Johnson, placed fifth in the state with 29 points. Bossier, led byoutstanding performer Duriel Laird, won the state title with 79 points.

Lake Charles Boston was second with 50 points, followed by Washington- Marion with 36 and Port Allen with 30.

West Feliciana, Iowa, Westlake and Winnsboro all had 28 points to tie for sixth while Springhill was 10th with 22 points.

Laird edged out Johnson in the 200 meters, 21.96-22.20. Laird also tookthe 100 meters in 10.75. Johnson was fourth with a time of 10.99.”I was nervous at the beginning,” Johnson said of his first state meet.

“After the first race, I knew I just had to push harder at the beginning of the race. I pushed harder and everything came out well (in the 200). Iexpected first but I feel pretty good about the time I got.”Teammate Clarence Weber placed eighth in the triple jump with a jump of 40-10.75. Winnsboro’s John Moffitt was first with a jump of 49-5.25. The Bulldogs’ 800-meter relay team of Shane Duhe, Rick Bleakley, Lance Allen and Johnson placed sixth with a time of 1:30.84. Bossier capturedthe state title in 1:27.62. Bossier also won the 400-meter relay in 41.74. Lutcher’s squad of Duhe,Ricardo Williams, Allen and Johnson was eighth in 43.63.In the girls’ competition, Lutcher tied for 34th with one point. LakeCharles Boston won its second straight state title with 90 points. NotreDame was second with 46 points, followed by Port Allen with 38 and Northwest with 33. Donaldsonville and Iowa tied for fifth with 28 points.Lutcher’s Tiffany Griffin placed sixth in the javelin with a throw of 110- 5. Abbeville’s Maria Romero won the state title with a throw of 139-2.St. James’ Shamel Nelson was seventh in the shot put with a throw of 32-10. Berwick’s Devon Morse was first with a throw of 38-3.Notre Dame’s Clarrisa Johnson was named the meet’s outstanding performer after winning the triple and long jumps.

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