Gykel Bessard

The Delcambre High School track and field team is ready for the LHSAA Outdoor Track and Field State Meet.

Led by junior Gykel Bessard and freshman Emma Smith, the Panthers are hoping to put in top performances at Wednesday’s District 8-2A meet at Catholic High en route to the state meet at LSU in May.

Smith has been on a hot streak recently, winning gold in the high jump and bronze in the 60-meter hurdles at the LHSAA Indoor State Meet. She has kept the momentum going, excelling at the Panther Relays earlier in the season before winning Outstanding Female Performer at the Vermilion Parish championship with first-place finishes in the high jump, 100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles.

“It’s all going to plan right now. I’m getting closer (to hitting her marks) in the 300-meter hurdles, definitely. The hardest transition from indoor to outdoor is the 300-meter hurdles because I don’t train for that during the indoor season. I just go straight into it, while I already have a bit of help with the high jump and 100-meter hurdles.”

While there’s always going to be pressure for a successful athlete, and even more so for a freshman, Smith said she is just focused on having fun as the season heats up.

“I’m just going out there and doing what I love. I’m mainly looking to show out in high jump since that’s what I’m at the top of right now,” she said. “Hopefully I have a good finish in both the high jump and the 100-meter hurdles. In high jump, there’s one other girl who is slightly under me but I should be able to take first in that. I’m very confident in that one. In the 100-meter hurdles, I’m looking at third place, hopefully.”

Junior Gykel Bessard is also making waves for the Panthers. As the fourth-best 400-meter runner in Class 2A, Bessard looks set to impress at the state meet.

“I think it’s just genes, maybe,” Bessard joked. “I mean, I work hard for it. I’m not the fastest, but I push hard to be there.”

Bessard is a four-sport athlete at Delcambre, playing football, basketball, baseball and running track. For Bessard, constantly playing sports helps keep him in shape and pays off in the track season.

“We do a lot with Coach Brad (Armentor) and always a lot in football and basketball, always going up and down running, so I’m constantly moving,” he said. “I never stop running, so I think that helps me continue to improve.”

Bessard competes in several short-distance events, even pulling a shift in the 4×400-meter relay team, but his favorite event is the 400-meters. The reason? Because he’s good at it.

“I mean, I can do it,” he said. “I can sprint a whole lap and I’m currently trying to break the 50 (second) mark. I’m at 51 right now. Last year wasn’t too pretty for me at state, but I think I have it this year. I want to hit 49.”

Bessard said he has no plans to slow down once his junior year finishes. With an eye on a track scholarship at the University of Louisiana, the future architect major said he intends to take his athletics even more seriously in his senior year.

Bessard, Smith and the rest of the Panthers will be back in action on Wednesday at the District 8-2A meet at Catholic High School. Field events start at 3 p.m., with running events set to begin at 5:30 p.m.