By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

THIBODAUX – Several local athletes had strong performances at Friday’s Tiger Relays at Thibodaux, highlighted by East St. John’s Darichelle Sampson and West St. John’s Ladarius Lewis.

Sampson captured first place in the girls 100 meter dash with a time of 12.4 seconds, and Lewis took a first place finish in the boys 300-meter hurdles with a time of 41.13.

Sampson, Deznee Wilson and Dynekia Sanders anchored a Ladycats effort that resulted in a fifth place finish out of 16 teams, despite not having competitors in a number of events.

Wilson finished second in the 100 behind Sampson, posting a time of 12.67. The duo also finished third and fourth respectively in the 400, with Wilson’s time of 1:01.67 edging Sampson’s time of 1:01.91.

“They really stepped up for us,” said ESJ girls coach Reianda Rousseau. “We didn’t compete in that many events, but having two girls place in the top three and four in those events gave us a push.”

Sanders earned her team some points in the field, posting a triple jump mark of 35-10.

“That was her best ever jump,” said Rousseau.

ESJ’s 4×400 relay team consisting of Sampson, Wilson, Sanders and Journae King placed third.

“I’m not surprised at our placement in that I thought they couldn’t do it,” said Rousseau. “But to finish fifth in that field is very exciting.”

West St. John’s Damon Scott, Demiere Gordon and Ambria Major also established high placements. Scott finished second in the boys triple jump with a leap of 44-6. Gordon placed third in the boys discus with a mark of 137-0. Major finished third in the triple jump with a mark of 34-3.