Records fell like rain drops Saturday in LSU’s Bernie Moore Stadium.
Well, maybe not quite as rapidly as the storms that shook up the final two days of the 2026 LHSAA Outdoor Track and Field State Championships.
But the delays and disruptions couldn’t stop Louisiana athletes from carving their names into history with six new composite records, including two events in which the runner-up also surpassed the previous mark.
“Maybe it’s because it’s not hot outside, because usually when I train, I train at the hotter times of the day, so this is like a luxury,” laughed Northshore sophomore Grace Keene after her second record-breaking run through the rain on the day.
Keene had already set the new mark in the Class 5A girls’ 1600-meter (4:54.48) earlier when she learned from the public-address announcement while atop the awards stand for the 800-meter (2:11.69) that she’d done so again in that event.
“I put my hand on my mouth and was like, ‘whoa, I did that? That’s so amazing,'” she said. “And that’s a PR for me, so I’m just so happy… It was (a little bit of a comeback). I was in I don’t know what place. I was kind of more in the back in the beginning. And so I just told myself, ‘Stay calm. This is a very fast heat.’ And the last 200, I was in third, and I was like, ‘Just go. Just give everything you’ve got.'”
Keene edged Lafayette sophomore Riley Siner (2:11.70) in the latter event, in which both out-ran the previous record pace.
Brother Martin star Easton Royal blew past both the competition and a 46-year-old record in his 10.17-second Class 5A 100-meter dash victory.
The Texas football commit still being heavily recruited by home-state LSU and others earned the Class 5A boys’ Outstanding Performer honors with three gold medals.
He called the performance and the year’s preparation for the moment a mission of redemption after a second-place finish on the same track last spring.
“This year I really focused more in on track, getting speed training and block-work training,” he said. “Last year I came out here, I had it to the end of the race and I lost. And it’s left a bad taste in my mouth, so I had hunger.”
He clearly expressed that while grateful for the achievement, he is not satisfied.
“It’s expected,” Royal said. “It obviously means a lot, but I wanted to run 10.00 or closer to the 9 range. But God blessed me to be able to run a 10.17, which I’m grateful for.”
Fellow 2027 two-sport star Ja’ir Burks of Jesuit had similar sentiments following his 110-meter hurdles (13.73 seconds) that matched a composite record: the accomplishment was good, but he can and will still be even better.
“I wanted to come out here, do the best I can and win the race,” said Burks, also a promising 2027 wide receiver prospect. “I didn’t do the best I can knowing that last year I came out here and ran (a non-wind-legal) 13.62, but I’ve got one more year for improvement before I head off for college doing football or track.”
Burks’ teammate, Jesuit senior Connor Fanberg (4:04.90), took down a 44-year-old record in the 1600-meter with a kick in the final lap to nudge past Parkway junior Brennan Robin (4:05.84), who also out-ran the previous best time.
Like Keene following her 800-meter, Fanberg was surprised to learn in real time that he had broken a record.
“I didn’t even know what the time was. I saw ‘4:04.’ I wasn’t sure if that was the complete time. Was that the complete time?” he said. “That’s great. What was the previous record? I mean, it means a lot. I’ve worked hard this season than ever before. The year didn’t start off great in indoor because I had a hip injury, and that sidelined me for about a month. But I came back, and yeah, it just means a lot.”
Once lightning finally cleared the area, the first race of the day actually set the tone both for the record-setting day overall and for Teurlings Catholic’s girls’ title run in Class 4A
Scarlett James, Mia Lemaire, Aaryam Saleh and Abigail Leger took the 4×800-meter gold with a 9:28.33 time that now tops the Louisiana record books.
Second-place Leesville (Scout Fortner, Anna Fontaine, Janiya James, Brooklyn Burch) also out-ran the previous Class 4A record.
[ VISIT THE LOUISIANA VS. ALL Y’ALL CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE FOR DOZENS MORE INTERVIEWS FROM THE MEET. ]