Complete Results

Jan. 18, 2008

By Ryan Shaw
www.siusalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois men's and women's track and field teams opened the 2008 Saluki SASF Invitational with strong field performances.

Senior Brittany Riley got the Salukis off to a great start with her win in the women's weight throw. Riley turned in a throw of 78-01.75 (23.82m) to win the event.

Riley was one of three Salukis to finish in the top five in the weight throw. Rickael Roach followed in fourth place with a throw of 53-05.50 (16.29m), while Olga Ciura took fifth with a mark of 49-03.00 (15.01m).

On the men's side, Brenton Siemons and Joe Mueller finished first and second in the weight throw, respectively. Siemons threw a 61-11.00 (18.87m) and Mueller followed with a mark 60-03.00 (18.36m). Thomas Smith also finished in the top five with a 58-03.25 (17.76m) throw, good enough for fifth place.

SIU's Bianca Stuart finished second in the women's long jump behind Austin Peay's Leeann White. Both Stuart and White jumped 19-06.25 (5.95m), but White was named the winner by judges decision. Mikeya Nicholson finished in sixth for the Salukis with a jump of 17-03.25 (5.26m).

In the men's pole vault, Justin Kozak and Blake Brachear finished in second and third, respectively with marks of 15-01.00 (4.60m). Brachear's mark topped the personal best of 14-07.25 (4.45m) that he set last year. The two finished behind Jeremy Willis of Arkansas State who turned in a vault of 15-07.00 (4.75m).

In women's pole vault, Andree Pickens of Bell Athletics set a new SASF Invitational Record with a 13-07.75 (4.16m). The previous record of 13-07.25 (4.15m) was set by Kelly Suttle of Bell Athletics in 1999.

SIU's top finisher in the men's long jump was Geoffrey Daniel, who turned in a personal best of 22-02.50 (6.77m) for a fourth-place finish.

The Saluki Booster will resume tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the SIU Student Recreation Center.