Complete Results

Dec. 8, 2007

By Ryan Shaw

www.siusalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Thrower Brittany Riley started the Salukis' season off on a high note for the Southern Illinois track and field teams Friday at the annual Fast Start Invitational. The junior automatically qualified for the 2007-08 NCAA Indoor Championships in March.

Riley threw a 79-06.00 (24.23 meters), breaking the automatic qualifying mark of 21.00 meters in the women's 20lb. weight throw.

Bianca Stuart earned a provisional bid to the NCAAs with her 20-07.75 (6.29 meters) in the long jump.

Also competing well in throws were Sasha Leeth, who placed fourth in weight throw with a 56-06.00 and won shot put with a 40-05.00, Olga Ciura, who placed second in the shot put with 38-10.50, Joe Mueller, who won the weight throw with a 62-02.25, and Joe Paradiso, who finished third in the weight with a 56-04.75.

Justin P. Kozak was SIU's top finisher in the pole vault, with a top clearing high of 15-05.00 (4.70 meters). In women's pole vault, Miracle Thompson and Jacque Menke tied the SIU school record in the pole vault with marks of 10-06.00 (3.20 meters).

Other top field event finishes included a fourth-place finish for Trenton McKinney in the long jump, where he posted a distance of 23-01.25 (7-04). Mikeya Nicholson posted a third-place finish for the Salukis in the triple jump with a 40.00.75 (12.21).

In the men's 4x400 relay, SIU's "B" team, made up of Justin C. Kozak, Brett Brachear, Kendall Earl and Stephen Arvanis finished second in their heat and fifth overall with a time of 3:28.14. The Salukis' "A" team, made up of Brady Hammon, Brandon Deloney, Jermaine Roberts and Sammy Biggs, finished third overall with a time of 3:22.57.

The women's "A" team, Kendra Deck, Tredene Davis, Andrea Norris and Kandise Thompson finished second in the 4x400 with a time of 3:53.76

The team will return to action on Jan. 18-19 when they host the Saluki Booster meet at the SIU Recreation Center.