Two automatically qualify for NCAA Track and Field Championships

May 26, 2007

By Shalae Schulte
www.siusalukis.com

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COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Southern Illinois track and field teams will send two athletes to Sacramento, Calif., and await the fate of a third for the NCAA Championships in June following competition Saturday at the Mideast Regional Championship.

Brittany Riley began the day strong, winning the hammer throw while setting a new Mideast Regional and Audrey J. Walton Track record with a toss of 237-03, the second-best throw of her career.

Riley then went on to throw a personal-best 170-01 in the discus for third place, advancing to the NCAA championships in her second event.

For the men, Brenton Siemons emerged in the shot put. A regional finalist in the hammer a year ago, the junior threw a personal best 59-04 for fourth place in the shot and an automatic bid to nationals.

Antwon Stapleton triple jumped his way to an 11th-place finish with a final leap of 50-01.25. The senior, ranked in the top 20 in the nation, can still make the cut for Sacramento pending the results of the other three regional meets.