Bulldogs Host Jace Lacoste Invitational On Friday and Saturday
Lacoste was a 1990 cum laude graduate of MSU, where he was a student senator, member of Omicron Delta Kappa, and a member of Blue Key Honor Society. On the track, he was an All-SEC decathlete and All-SEC Scholar Athlete. Lacoste lost his life in a 1995 car accident while on his way to MSU to watch younger brother Paul make his first start at middle linebacker for the Bulldogs.
"Jace was a decathlete here," MSU director of track & field Al Schmidt said. "He was special to us. He was a guy that emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually outperformed his talent level. He was always one of those special guys that stepped up when it was time and I was glad to get to coach him."
"It was a great loss to all of us, obviously to his family, but to the Mississippi State family as well" Schmidt added. "So we decided to honor him by naming the meet after him."
The Bulldogs enter the meet ranked No. 6, thanks to impressive performances from athletes like D'Angelo Cherry, who placed third in the 100m dash, and Emanuel Mayers who finished fourth in the 400m hurdles, at last week's Texas Relays.
Action on Friday starts at 2:00 pm with the women's hammer throw and concludes with the men's and women's 5000m at 7:30 pm.
Action resumes Saturday morning with the women's pole vault at 10:00 a.m., while track events begin with the women's 4x100m relay at 1:00 pm. The Invitational concludes with the men's 4x400m relay at 4:30 pm.
Admission both days is free.