New Orleans, Louisiana- It wasn't the fastest time of her career, but for University of New Orleans track and field student-athlete
Alexia Fortenberry, competing at the USA Track and Field Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico last weekend was the highlight of her career.
The Harvey, Louisiana hurdler turned in a time of 8.32 seconds in her semi-final heat of the 60 meter hurdles---not fast enough to advance to the finals. However, head track and field coach
Benjamin Dalton says this could have been the most important meet of her life.
"Now she knows that she's lined up against the world record holder (Keni Harrison), the world's championship gold medalist. You've been there before and that's great experience to carry on to the NCAA's indoors and outdoors."
After three consecutive winning performances, including a season's best of 8.26 in the 60 meter hurdles at the LSU Twilight Meet, Fortenberry missed the Southland Conference Championships with a concussion. Her previous wins came at the Dunamis I and Dunamis II Indoor Meets in Frisco, Texas.
"Lex deserved the opportunity to come to something like this. She lined up and she actually stayed engaged and focused and did what she needed to do. So that's a really good progression for her," added Dalton.
Fortenberry holds the school-record in the 100-meter hurdles at 13.14 seconds and she became the first female from the University of New Orleans to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon last year.
Next up for the Privateers, The Bob Hayes Challenge in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Saturday, Mar. 11 followed by the Mississippi State Relays in Starkville, Mississippi Mar.17-18.
--www.UNOPrivateers.com--
