Track and Field records three new NCAA regional-qualifying marks at Sea Ray Relays

The Salukis recorded seven top-10 finishes.

April 11, 2009

By Shalae Patrick
www.siusalukis.com

Results

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The Southern Illinois track and field teams picked up four more NCAA regional-qualifying marks at the Sea Ray Relays hosted by the University of Tennessee.

Saturday
The Salukis picked up seven top-10 finishes including two new regional marks, bringing the men's and women's teams total to 13 regional marks.

Jeneva McCall, already with two meet titles and a regional qualifying mark, finished second in the invitational discus with a career-best 176-02 (53.71m). All-American Bianca Stuart, jumping in her first meet of the outdoor season, picked up a third-place finish in the long jump, regionally qualifying with a jump of 20-06.25 (6.25m).

On the men's side, J.C. Lambert posted his first regional mark of the season throwing 186-06 (56.84m), good for fourth place in the open hammer throw. Joe Mueller finished seventh (181-00, 55.16m) and Ryan Shumaker, 10th (172-02, 52.49m).

In the open javelin, Tommy Smith finished fourth with a mark of 185-02 (56.45m). Cody Doerflein finished fifth in the open pole vault, clearing 15-07 (4.75m).

Friday
The Southern Illinois track and field teams survived treacherous weather and delays to earn 19 top-10 finishes Friday at the Sea Ray Relays hosted by the University of Tennessee.

McCall led the Salukis with two meet titles in the women's throws. She won the open hammer with a toss of 173-05 (52.85m), then went on to post the best toss in the open discus throw with an NCAA regional-qualifying mark of 172-08 (52.63m). Jordan Harris (152-05, 46.49m) and Rickael Roach (149-00, 45.43m) finished fifth and eighth in the event.

Already regionally qualified, Sasha Leeth (193-09, 59.06m), Rickael Roach (192-05, 58.65m) and Gwen Berry (183-00, 55.78m) finished third, fourth and seventh respectively in the women's hammer throw invitational, all regional marks.

In the triple jump, Malaikah Love finished sixth with a leap of 39-09.75 (12.13m).

In the women's running events, Kendra Deck posted a sixth-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles in 1:01.60, while Nefeteri Williams finished 10th in 1:03.08. Emily Toennies (17:14.75) and Megan Hoelscher (17.39.49) placed fourth and sixth in the 5,000-meter run.

In the men's running events, Willie Knox finished sixth in the 400 hurdles in 53.38 and Jeff Schirmer posted a fifth-place finish in the 1,500 run in 3:48.66.

In the 5,000-meter invitational run, Kyle Kirchner finished seventh in 14:53.62 and Neal Anderson finished 10th in 15:03.78. Jason Ordway also finished third in the 10,000-meter run in 30:28.64.

Both teams return to action April 17-18 at the Indiana Invitational.