Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Freshman Ray Scotten Named MVC Field Athlete of the Week
04/16/2003 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
April 16, 2003
Carbondale, Ill. - Southern Illinois freshman Ray Scotten earned Missouri Valley Conference Field Athlete of the Week honors for the second time this year by taking first the open pole vault competition Friday at the Sea Ray Relays in Knoxville, Tennessee, a meet that featured over 1,500 athletes.
He reached a regional qualifying mark by clearing 17-1 to take first out of 27 competitors. The next day, Scotten improved upon his regional mark by clearing 17-9 for third place in the pole vault invitational, just behind 2000 Olympic silver medalist Lawrence Johnson who also cleared 17-9. Scotten's vault, an MVC season best, crushed the Salukis' outdoor pole vault record by five inches. The previous record was set in 1984 by John Sayre (17-4).
Others receiving MVC honors this week include Southwest Missouri State's Cheasa Gibson (track), Wichita State's Bruce Swan (track), and Indiana State's Beth Hilton (field).
