‘Hoppy ANT-iversary’ Audubon Insectarium
June 9, 2009
Stephen "Joe" Andras
June 11, 2009
“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again,” or so says an English proverb.
For Nicholls State senior javelin thrower Leslie Bourgeois, the old cliché, “The third time is a charm,” is more accurate.
After missing the NCAA Track and Field Championships twice, Bourgeois sealed a place at today’s NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Ark.
Bourgeois’ 48.36-meter throw earned her a fourth-place finish at the regionals and a spot in the record books as Nicholls’ first athlete to qualify for the championships.
Two years earlier, when Bourgeois first qualified for regionals as a sophomore, she set her sights on reaching the NCAA Championships. Although it took longer than she had hoped to realize her goal, the Raceland native is enjoying the moment.
“I was pretty nervous for regionals because it was my last chance, and I didn’t want to come back home not having qualified,” she said. “So, now I’m just trying to take it all in. We have prelims (today) so it would be amazing if I could make the finals. Hopefully, I do what I need to to make it to the finals. That’s pretty much all I can hope for.”
Ironically, Bourgeois’ previous failed attempts at regionals provided her with an advantage: experience.
“I was a lot more focused at regionals having gone twice already,” she explained. “I was able to keep myself composed and relaxed and that is a big part of it.”
Fourth-year Nicholls track and field coach Scott Williamson said sticking with what has worked will be key at today’s event.
After all, Bourgeois has steadily improved in every meet this season, he noted.
Earlier in the season, Bourgeois won the Southland Conference Championship in the javelin, posting a toss of 46.40-meters. It was her second career Southland Conference title in the event.
“When we go into championship events, we take an approach that we don’t have to do anything different or special,” Williamson said. “We just have to do what we have been doing the whole year. When we come into a competition like this, some kids get so excited that they made it and they try to do something different because they are here. Sometimes they do OK, but more than likely, they are going to do worse than they have done all year.
“Through our focus and training, we have taken the approach to do better than we have been doing all year,” he added. “That’s the philosophy we take into this competition.”
Williamson said in order for Bourgeois to finish ranked in the Top 8 and become an All-American, she’ll likely need a throw between 50 and 51 feet, something he believes isn’t impossible.
“She is definitely very capable of that,” he explained. “Her second throw was her best, but it wasn’t a perfect throw, so there were some things to work on.”
Regardless of the results this week, Bourgeois said she is excited to have the opportunity to compete against the nation’s best college athletes.
Once she returns, she’ll continue preparations for her second trip to the U.S.A. Nationals in Oregon on June 25. Teammate Danielle Daigle, a freshman, is also competing.
“I’m excited for that,” Bourgeois said. “My sister is going to come with us, so I’ll have her there. It’s the next thing I’m looking forward to.”
Staff photos by KYLE CARRIER / Tri-Parish Times Nicholls javelin thrower Leslie Bourgeois practices as head coach Scott Williamson looks on. Bourgeois becomes the first Nicholls athlete to compete in the NCAA Championships beginning today in Fayetteville, Ark.
