Southern Illinois University
Saluki USA T&F Open
Track and Field--Young and Scotten Hit Provisional Marks
02/15/2003 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
Feb. 15, 2003
Carbondale, Ill. - SIU track and field made great strides in performances this weekend at the non-scored USA Track and Field Open. Two Salukis hit provisional qualifying marks this weekend for the NCAA national championships.
Senior Jeff Young qualified provisionally in the 55m-hurdle prelims (7.39) and then bettered his time in the finals (7.32) to take first. Freshman Ray Scotten cleared the provisional mark in the pole vault at the Tyson Invitational hosted by Arkansas Friday. Scotten's vault of 17-4.75 was good enough for third place.
Men Continue To Show Strength--SIU collected four firsts in addition to Young's first place finish at the USA Track and Field Open. Nyles Stuart topped competition in the triple jump with a leap of 49-9.75. Eli Baker won the 5000m (15:08.56) while Felix Anderson took and Marvin Primo took top honors in the 400m (48.74) and 200m (22.07), respectively.
Chris Cline was runner-up in the 35lb weight (55-3.5). Orane Morgan ran to a third place finish in the 800m (1:55.77). Anderson was third in the 200 (22.27).
Kellen Allen tied for third in the high jump clearing 6-6.25 while Paul Whitaker tied for sixth at the same height. Dayton Johnson placed fifth in the triple jump (47-4.5). Brent Little finished sixth in the long jump (22-7.25).
Luke Stenberg and Kevin Mills finished third (6.45) and fifth (6.49) in the 55m. Senior Ryan Hauser placed fifth in the mile (4:27.34). Tony LaChiana was sixth in the 5000m (15:36.96). Maurice Moss and Stenberg were sixth (22.46) and seventh (22.64) in the 200m.
The foursome of Moss, Morgan, Emmanuele Parris, and Baker ran for fourth place in the 4x400 (3:24.78).
Joe Byrne finished fifth in the 5000m (14:45.15) at the Tyson Invitational.
"Our group had a nice meet at both places," said head coach Cameron Wright. "This team is ready to compete at conference. We have a good strong team this year and it has been an enjoyable season so far. We just need to put it all together in a couple of weeks."
Women Show Personal Bests--Several women recorded personal bests this weekend. Junior Korto Dunbar ran a personal best in the 55m-hurdles. She took first in the finals with 7.93. Sophomores Venisha Williams and Katy Ritten placed first and second in the 20lb weight throw with personal bests of 56-1 and 55-0.75, respectively. Inna Turevsky turned in top marks in the long jump (18-10.75) and the triple jump (40-5.5).
Noa Beitler was the winner of the mile in 5:10.82.
Ritten took second in the shot (46-2.5), followed by Danielle Lawary (45-0.5) and Megan Cenkush (42-4.75). Janine Batchelor was sixth (38-10.5). Senior Latrice Gray tied for second in the high jump clearing 5-5. Marian Appiah-Kubi finished second in the 400m (57.52). Dunbar was second in the 55m (7.11) while teammate Kelsey Toussaint took fourth (7.16). Toussaint edged Dunbar in the 200m, 25.27 and 25.28 for second and third.
Freshman Ty Davis ran third in the 800m (2:15.04). Senior Katie Meehan finished fourth in the 3000m (10:43.58).
"This was a really good meet for us," said head coach Connie Price-Smith. "There was a lot of good competition, and the kids came out and performed well. I'm pleased with what they did this weekend. We seem to get better each week, and that's what you want to see with two weeks from conference."
