LAPLACE — The St. John Legends AAU youth track team got its 2017 competition season started Sunday with a trip to Houston for Joe DeLoach Youth Invitational Indoor Meet held at the University of Houston.

Coach Mark Creecy took four athletes, including his daughters, to the event where each achieved a personal best in their respective events.

Due to a knee injury, Anya Creecy, 12, competed exclusively in the shot put, where she threw a career best indoor measurement of 29 feet, 10 inches.

She has been competing in track and field for the last five years and went to two indoor meets last year.

Kharma Creecy, 10, threw an all-time best 32-5 in the shot put, good enough for third place overall.

She was the only local athlete to receive a medal.

Her previous best was 30 feet at last year’s national championship held in Houston in August.

“She bested both her indoor and outdoor measurement,” Coach Creecy said, adding Kharma threw 26 feet indoors last year and 30 feet outdoors.

Kharma finished in the top 10 nationally for her age in the shot put last year. She also competed in the 60 meter dash.

Aja Creecy, 9, threw a career best 24-4 in the shot put competition. Her previous best under any conditions was 21-8, according to Coach Creecy.

Aja also competed in the 60 meter hurdles for the first time, which proved to be a challenge for the youngster.

“She did OK,” Creecy said “She didn’t finish last.”

Zhanell Francois, 10, ran a career best in the 55 meter dash and in the 200 meter dash. Although she won her heat in the 55 meters with a time of 8.22, she did not advance to the finals.

Her previous best was 8.96.

Her time of 30.01 in the 200 was good for second in her individual heat and 14th overall.

Creecy, who has led the local team for the past four years, said he was proud of the girls’ effort.

“I was happy,” he said. “It’s partly age, they’re getting stronger. The good thing is, they all went out and beat themselves. They all got better. That gives us something to build on.”

Throughout the rest of the year, the St. John Legends track team will travel to meets in Alabama, Georgia, Florida and will attend the AAU Nationals this August in Michigan.

Anyone interested in joining the team may contact Creecy at 985-212-7295.