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 For decades the programs had overcome an outdated facility adjacent to Joe Aillet Stadium on Louisiana Tech’s campus, still managing to win several championships.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 200m 10.32 Dennis Richardson, LA Tech 3/16/2013 20.71 Albert Fullwood, LA Tech 5/15/2010

400m 45.74 Jackie Harris, Lamar

800m

1:48.87 Doug Glover, ULM 1,500m 3:43.77 Russell Mangum, ULM 3,000m 8:31.14 Shaun Koehn, Little Rock

1984 1984 1985 5/20/2015

5,000m 14:21.94 Roger Barker, LA Tech 10,000m N/A N/A Steeplechase 8:52.10 Frank Montebello, Lamar 110m Hurdles 13.66 Sansiski Daniels, UT Arlingon 400m Hurdles 50.35 Nick Karren, Utah State

1980 N/A 1980 1984 5/15/2010

4x100m Relay 39.64 UL-Lafayette 4x400m Relay 3:07.27 UT Arlington

5/13/1991 1984 High Jump 2.27m Thomas Eriksson, Lamar 1984 Pole Vault 5.48m Steve Stubblefield, Arkansas State 1984 Long Jump 7.93m Troy Amboree, Lamar 1984 Triple Jump 16.43m Thomas Eriksson, Lamar 1984 Shot Put 18.66m Jon Arthur, Stephen F. Austin 3/16/2013 Discus 65.93m Jason Morgan, Jamaica 3/16/2013 Javelin (New) 73.00m John Ampomah, Wiley 3/22/2014 Hammer 66.31m Adonson Shallow, Southeastern 3/20/2010 Decathlon 7,412 Kurt Felix, Boise State 5/13/2010

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

WOMEN’S FACILITY RECORDS

CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS

100m 11.39 Quanisha Sales, LA Tech 5/15/2010

200m 400m 23.45 Latonia Wilson, LA Tech 52.95 Nina Gilbert, LA Tech

3/28/2007 3/28/2007 800m 2:05.65 Charlene Lipsey, Unattached 3/22/2014 1,500m 4:28.41 Charlene Lipsey, Unattached 3/22/2014 3,000m 10:15.51 Riley Killian, LA Tech 3/19/2022 5,000m 17:06.92 Allix Lee-Painter, Idaho 5/15/2010 10,000m 36:16.67 Allix Lee-Painter, Idaho 5/14/2010 Steeplechase 10:26.18 Allix Lee-Painter, Idaho 5/14/2010 100m Hurdles 13.07 Antoinette Cobb, LA Tech 5/15/2010 400m Hurdles 59.02 Miriam Barnes, Unattached 3/20/2010 4x100m Relay 44.43 LA Tech (Shelton, Sales, Green, Lewis-Baker) 5/15/2010 4x400m Relay 3:40.02 LA Tech (Wright, Stroy, Worthy, Benion) 5/15/2010 High Jump 1.82m Amber Kaufman, Hawai’i 5/15/2010 Pole Vault 3.94m K.C. Dahlgren, Idaho 5/14/2010 Long Jump 6.62m Chelsea Hayes, LA Tech 4/7/2012 Triple Jump 13.29m Eleni Kafourou, Boise State 5/15/2010 Shot Put 16.05m Mykael Bothum, Idaho 5/14/2010 Discus 53.74m TeRina Keenan, Hawai’i 5/15/2010 Hammer 58.92m Gabby Midles, Idaho 5/15/2010 Javelin 50.87m Rebekah Wales, LSU 3/22/2014 Heptathlon 5,601 Ulrike Hartz, Idaho 5/13/2010

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, LA Tech 1973 Javelin (Old) 73.53m Glenn Pere, Lamar 1973