Jim Mize Track & Field Complex

JIM MIZE

TRACK & FIELD COMPLEX

Areal legend in Tech history, Coach Mize first came to Tech as an athlete out of Shreveport Fair Park and later returned as a coach to produce one of the largest running success stories ever for the Bulldogs.

Coaching football alongside Joe Aillet and Maxie Lambright for 24 years, Mize also built a very consistent track program through 1977.

He won conference championships in 1961, 1973 and 1974 and always had competitive teams.

HOST OF

1973 SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS 1980 SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS 1984 SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS 1991 AMERICAN SOUTH CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2010 WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

JIM MIZE

TRACK & FIELD COMPLEX

Starting with the 2009 season, Louisiana Tech’s championship track and field programs had a state-of-the-art facility to call home. In the spring of 2019, the track received another facelift in the form of a resurfacing that was completed just in time for the outdoor season. For decades the programs had overcome an outdated facility adjacent to Joe Aillet Stadium on Louisiana Tech’s campus, still managing to win several championships. That all changed in March 2008 when construction began on a new facility. Since the sport of track has changed drastically from the time the old track at Tech was constructed in the 1970s, several updates were needed. Furthermore, because the new track was being built in the same area as the previous one, the old track needed to be completely removed. Not that the old facility didn’t enjoy its time in the sun; on the contrary, it hosted the three Southland Conference Championships as well as the 1991 American South Conference Championships. One of the many upgrades with the new track is a practice field in the middle, which can be used for soccer and football. To accommodate the need, the new track needed to be wider than the previous one. “The new facility allows us to practice better and more efficiently,” Tech head men’s and women’s track coach Gary Stanley said. “It also contains several throwing and jumping areas so our teams can practice at the same time.” Completed in August 2008, the new Jim Mize Track and Field Complex includes a modern drainage system, a much bigger high jump apron and a new location for the steeplechase course. Previously on the outside of the track, the steeplechase pit has been moved on the inside, similar with most tracks. The updated facility allowed Louisiana Tech to host the 2010 Western Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships where the Lady Techsters won their seventh consecutive outdoor title and their 11th WAC title in 12 tries. Head coach Gary Stanley believes the new tartan surface track will not only benefit his teams physically, but psychologically. “The facility benefits us after we come home from a meet,” Stanley said. “Now, we know we are coming home to a facility that is on par with the facilities we typically

see.”

The new facility also contains the resources needed to adapt to changes in the wind. For instance, if wind is present, the javelin, discus and shot put events can occur from two different areas. For runners, the starting blocks can be moved depending on the direction of the wind as well. “Without a doubt, the new track facility will make a difference with recruits,” Stanley said. “We now have a first class facility for our athletes who are getting a first class education and that is something we really stress in our program.” Along with the new track is a new sand volleyball court located on the north end of the track. Like the new track, the volleyball court can also be illuminated. The court will be used for intramural sand volleyball and as a training tool for the football team. On Nov. 1, 2008, Tech President Dr. Dan Reneau announced that the track facility would once again be named the Jim Mize Track and Field Complex. Mize attended Tech as an athlete from Fair Park High School in Shreveport, La. and later came back to the university as a coach. He coached football alongside Aillet and Maxie Lambright for 24 years. During his time at Tech, Mize also built a consistent track program. As a track coach, he won conference championships in 1961, 1973 and 1974.

MEN’S FACILITY RECORDS

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS

100m 10.32 Dennis Richardson, LA Tech March 16, 2013 200m 20.71 Albert Fullwood, Louisiana Tech May 15, 2010 400m 45.74 Jackie Harris, Lamar 1984 800m 1:48.87 Doug Glover, Northeast Louisiana 1984 1,500m 3:43.77 Russell Mangum, Northeast Louisiana 1985 3,000m 8:31.14 Shaun Koehn, UALR May 20, 2015 5,000m 14:21.94 Roger Barker, Louisiana Tech 1980 10,000m N/A N/A N/A Steeplechase 8:52.10 Frank Montebello, Lamar 1980 110m Hurdles 13.66 Sansiski Daniels, UT Arlingon 1984 400m Hurdles 50.35 Nick Karren, Utah State May 15, 2010 4x100m Relay 39.64 SW Louisiana (Tauriac, Dobson, Labbe, Paul) May 13, 1991 4x400m Relay 3:07.27 UT Arlington 1984 High Jump 7-5.75 (2.27m) Thomas Eriksson, Lamar 1984 Pole Vault 18-0 (5.48m) Steve Stubblefield, Arkansas State 1984 Long Jump 26-0.25 (7.93m) Troy Amboree, Lamar 1984 Triple Jump 53-11 (16.43m) Thomas Eriksson, Lamar 1984 Shot Put 61-3 (18.66m) Jon Arthur, Stephen F. Austin March 16, 2013 Discus 216-4 (65.93m) Jason Morgan, Jamaica March 16, 2013 Javelin (New) 239-6 (73.00m) John Ampomah, Wiley March 22, 2014 Hammer 217-7 (66.31m) Adonson Shallow, Southeastern La. March 20, 2010 Decathlon 7,412 Kurt Felix, Boise State May 13, 2010

WOMEN’S FACILITY RECORDS

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS

100m 11.39 Quanisha Sales, Louisiana Tech May 15, 2010 200m 23.45 Latonia Wilson, Louisiana Tech March 28, 2007 400m 52.95 Nina Gilbert, Louisiana Tech March 28, 2007 800m 2:05.65 Charlene Lipsey, Unattached March 22, 2014 1,500m 4:28.41 Charlene Lipsey, Unattached March 22, 2014 3,000m 10:27.20 Andria Aguilar, LSU March 22, 2014 5,000m 17:06.92 Allix Lee-Painter, Idaho May 15, 2010 10,000m 36:16.67 Allix Lee-Painter, Idaho May 14, 2010 Steeplechase 10:26.18 Allix Lee-Painter, Idaho May 14, 2010 100m Hurdles 13.07 Antoinette Cobb, Louisiana Tech May 15, 2010 400m Hurdles 59.02 Miriam Barnes, Unattached March 20, 2010 4x100m Relay 44.43 LA Tech (Shelton, Sales, Green, Lewis-Baker) May 15, 2010 4x400m Relay 3:40.02 LA Tech (Wright, Stroy, Worthy, Benion) May 15, 2010 High Jump 6-0 (1.82m) Amber Kaufman, Hawai’i May 15, 2010 Pole Vault 12-11.5 (3.94m) K.C. Dahlgren, Idaho May 14, 2010 Long Jump 21-8.75 (6.62m) Chelsea Hayes, Louisiana Tech April 7, 2012 Triple Jump 43-7.25 (13.29m) Eleni Kafourou, Boise State May 15, 2010 Shot Put 52-8.25 (16.05m) Mykael Bothum, Idaho May 14, 2010 Discus 176-4 (53.74m) TeRina Keenan, Hawai’i May 15, 2010 Hammer 193-4 (58.92m) Gabby Midles, Idaho May 15, 2010 Javelin 166-11 (50.87m) Rebekah Wales, LSU March 22, 2014 Heptathlon 5,601 Ulrike Hartz, Idaho May 13, 2010

DEFUNCT CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS

100 yds 9.6 Harold Porter, Southwest Lousiaina 1973 220 yds 21.2 Harold Porter, Southwest Louisiana 1973 440 yds 46.3 Anthony Stroman, Arkansas State 1973 880 yds 1:51.8 Robert Messer, McNeese State 1973 Mile 4:08.0 Jim Bailey, Arkansas State 1973 3 miles 14:16.5 Pat McSweeney, McNeese State 1973 120 yd HH 13.5 Ricky Stubbs, Louisiana Tech 1973 Javelin (Old) 241-3 (73.53m) Glenn Pere, Lamar 1973

BARBARABOLDEN1992

JARVISGOTCH2014-16

CHELSEAHAYES2010-12

TREYHADNOT2011-14

KIMFRANCIS2011-14 BRYANTWESCO1996-2000