Transfer Myles Thomas races to win in 60 meters to lead LSU in Purple Tiger meet

In the Purple Tiger season-opening event on Friday, sprinters Myles Thomas and Jaiden Reid made an unforgettable debut with the LSU track and field team.

Thomas, an Arkansas State sophomore transfer, tied the fourth-fastest mark in LSU history by winning the 60 meters in 6.61 seconds.

In his collegiate debut, Reid, a freshman from the Cayman Islands, also caused a stir when he placed second to Thomas in the 60 final with a time of 6.70.

In his debut race for LSU at the Carl Maddox Field House, Thomas, the 60-meter indoor and 100-meter outdoor Sun Belt Conference champion, also set a record in the 60 preliminary heats with a timing of 6.65 seconds.

Along with seasoned competitors Alia Armstrong, Lorena Rangel Batres, and Morgan Smalls in winning their individual competitions, Thomas was one of eight LSU winners on the day.

Rangel Batres won the mile in 4 minutes, 49.14 seconds, slightly ahead of All-American 800-meter specialist Michaela Rose in 4:49.20. Smalls won the women’s long jump, measuring 20 feet, 1½ inches. Armstrong won her first 60-meter hurdles race since 2022 in 8.05.

Other LSU winners were Matthew Sophia in the men’s 60 hurdles (7.77), Ji’eem Bullock in the men’s long jump (24 feet, 4¼ inches), Rhen Langley in the men’s mile (4:11.87) and Emery Prentice in the women’s pole vault (12-6).

Rushane Miller won the men’s 800 (1:58.29) and Shani Simon won the women’s 400 (1:00.33), both for Southern.

Three championships were won by UL athletes: the Cajuns women won the 4×400-meter relay (3:54.90), Teodor Borgius won the men’s pole vault (16-11½), and Abbey Marie Ratcliff won the women’s 3,000 (10:37.00).

In the women’s events, Sophia Wolf of UNO won the 300 (1:34.32), Anna Martin won the 800 (2:27.66), and Terrell Webb of Southeastern won the men’s weight throw (67-¾).