Barbe’s Jarden James runs the hurdles during the 5A district meet at Sam Houston High School in Moss Bluff, Louisiana on Wednesday, April 18, 2018. (AP Photo/Lake Charles American Press, Kirk Meche)

Kirk Meche

MOSS BLUFF — Powered by hurdlers Jarden James and Darrius Wallace, plus sprinter Gage Socha, Barbe successfully defended its District 3-5A track and field championship on Wednesday at Sam Houston High School.

“This year our entire team has competed well, but with those three on the team, it makes a difference,” said Barbe boys head track coach Eric Leblanc. “Those three are all on the 4×400 relay. 

“They come through and fight. District 3-5A is so tough, and when everyone is together competing, you never know what you are going to get. We were just lucky to come out on top.”

The trio accounted for 68.5 of Barbe’s 144.5 points, while New Iberia was the runner-up with 99 points and Sulphur took third with 88.5 points.

James ran a season best in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles to win both events. James was clocked at 14.94 seconds in the 110 and 39.83 in the 300.

Wallace was the runner-up in both hurdles events with a time of 15.43 in the 110 and 40.10 in the 300.

Socha placed in both sprint events and the 400, winning the 400 in a Southwest Louisiana-leading time of 50.46 seconds, knocking off .12 seconds off his previous best. The senior also placed third in the 100 (10.89) and second in the 200 (22.28) to LaGrange’s Trevon DeBoest’s time of 21.85.

The trio also placed second in the 4×400 with teammate Devin Bates with a time of 3:27.56.

Socha won outstanding track honors while Acadiana’s Elisha Sion won outstanding field honors after winning the shot put (48 feet, 11½ inches) and discus (152-8).

Lafayette ran away with the girls team title for the second year in a row, but it was a battle to the last race for the runner-up spot. Barbe held a three-point lead over Sulphur for the second spot heading into the 4×400. Sulphur finished two spots ahead of Barbe in fifth, but needed to finish ahead by three spot giving, Barbe the runner-up trophy, 95-93.

Barbe’s Kodi Traub won the javelin with a throw of 126-6 while Sulphur’s Jalisa Bridges launched a monster throw of 38-10 on her second try to win the shot put.

Sam Houston freshman Halyn Senegal won the 400 (57.57), .44 seconds off the meet record.

Lafayette swept the top girls awards with Madison Chandler taking outstanding field honors and sprinter Maureen Lee won outstanding track honors with wins in the in the 100, 200, 4×100 and 4×200.