Tracking her course

By: TONY MARKS
Editor

Christmas is a time for giving and receiving presents and being surrounded by those near and dear. As this Christmas rolls around, though, one Ville Platte native recalls receiving the greatest gift she could last year when she received her letterman jacket from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. This jacket represents the culmination all the hard work that led Blair Lafleur to this point after walking on as a track and field athlete.
“Receiving my college letterman jacket was an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment,” said Lafleur. “It was one of the best feelings to know I had made it that far. Being a college athlete requires so much work and dedication, and my letterman jacket represents that. I am proud to wear my jacket on campus or anywhere for that matter.”
Lafleur, a 2020 graduate of Sacred Heart School, was a multi-sport athlete for the Lady Trojans.
“I knew I wanted to continue some sport through college because I loved competing and being part of a team,” she said. “I was voted most athletic in my class. Even though I ran track and played softball, I loved basketball the most. I was chosen for the basketball All-District and All-Parish teams in 2017 and 2018 and first team All-District in 2019. Track was fun, and I seemed to excel at all the events I tried. I did all the jumps and was district champion in long and triple jump in 2017 and 2018 and placed 5th in state for the long jump in 2017. I didn’t start throwing the javelin till my junior year when my dad (Ronnie) thought I should try it. I had no technique or training in any event except for a few javelin lessons he had lined up. I would just go out there and wing it and somehow always seemed to qualify. My first and only year throwing the javelin, I was regional champion and placed 5th in State. I was the 2018 and 2019 district field MVP and received the outstanding field award in 2019.”
Lafleur went on to say, “Covid stole my senior year (of high school), so I never really got the chance to see what I could really do in javelin or any of the other events. I had talked to several other colleges before UL and had scholarship offers, but, if I was going to compete at the college level, I wanted to do so at the biggest university that would give me a chance because I really wanted to be a D1 athlete.”
After walking on in Lafayette, Lafleur trained as a heptathlete in long and high jump, hurdles, 200 and 800 meter, shotput, and javelin.
“It was fun to be able to do all the events,” she commented. “At my first college meet, I was competing in all seven events, but, when it came time for javelin, I stuck out mostly because all of the girls would start at the back line and do a run up then throw. But, because I had not learned how to do that, I just got in my stance, took three steps, and threw as hard as I could. I remember everyone looking a little confused as to why I wasn’t doing a full run up, but, somehow, I ended up placing over the others. That is when I got moved to the javelin. I came out in the top 10 in the Sunbelt Conference that year and every year since.”
Another event that stands out during Lafleur’s collegiate career is her first conference meet as a freshman. As she explained, “It was at the University of Alabama, and my teammates were amazing. Our senior thrower was setting records and qualified for the Olympic trials that year. The coaches told me I just needed to come out in the top 8 to get points for our team. I can’t even explain the pressure I felt or the feeling when I actually did it! It was then that I really felt like I belonged and had something to offer to my team.”
Throughout her athletic journey, Lafleur’s biggest influencers have always been her dad along with the rest of her family.
“I would have stuck with the running and jumps if (my dad) had not talked me into trying to throw the javelin,” she expressed. “He spent a lot of time and did his best to teach me all while trying to learn it himself. I remember how he, the other coaches, and even some of the team, would divide up at all the different events I was signed up for at the meet and hold my place in the line while I would run from one event to the next so that I wouldn’t miss my turn. He was always there by my side.”
She continued, “In elementary, my mom (Katie) would take me to the track to prepare for the fitness meet, and we would do the stretches, pullups, and sit-ups together at home. I will never forget how hard it was for me to run the long-distance races, but to hear and see her cheering me on was how I learned to push through. I still love to push myself and I am so thankful they kept pushing me to be where I am today. I love having my mom and dad travel to come support me, we always have the best time and are making awesome memories.”
While making the memories is part of the process for Lafleur, another part is learning about herself and relaying what she learned to those who come after her.
“Javelin requires a lot of technique,” she said. “Most of my teammates had training throughout their middle and high school careers. Here it is my senior year of college, and I’m still learning. But, I am still holding my own. I would encourage any young girl who wants to compete at college level to start young, get lessons from experienced athletes and coaches, and, most importantly, start a workout routine. Being a college athlete is a lot of work but has a lot of benefits. UL has so much to offer its athletes.”
She concluded, “I am proud to say that I worked hard enough to go on scholarship at the end of my sophomore year and have benefited so much from their athletic program, not to mention made some great friends along the way. I will be graduating next year with an economics and finance degree with a concentration in insurance and risk management. This will be my last season to compete and thanks to my amazing coaches and trainers (and local physical therapists) I’m gearing up for my best season yet!”