Southern Illinois University
Fast Start Invitational
Throwers Shine In First Meet of the Season
12/15/2004 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
Dec. 10, 2004
By Shalae Schulte
www.siusalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois men's and women's throwers started strong in the first meet of the season under a new throws coach John Smith Friday, breaking two records and recording several top-five Saluki bests in the five-team meet.
"It was a good day," said Saluki head coach Connie Price-Smith. "In certain events everyone came out and competed really well and there were some events that they could have done a little bit better, but it was a good start."
Amarachi Ukabam broke school records in the women's weight throw (64-07.75) and shot put (54-06.00), winning both events and qualifying provisionally for the NCAA Indoor Championships in each event.
The Saluki women took the top six spots in the weight throw and three of the top five places in the shot. Venisha Williams, the former weight throw record holder, finished second with a throw of 59-02.00, while fellow throwers Janine Batchelor and Katy Ritten tied for third in the weight throw, each throwing a personal best 58-01.00, placing each performance fourth all-time in Saluki history.
In the men's weight throw, SIU placed top four, while Mark Milleville (61-03.50) and Matt Weishaar (59-06.25) finished first and second, their marks fourth and fifth all-time at SIU, knocking their throws coach, Smith, out of the top-five.
"It's always great when throwers come out strong," Price-Smith said. "Throws are always lead-off events for the whole meet and when they come out and start well, and have PR (personal record) after PR which we did today and people break your records, it's a good start and it's good for the rest of the team."
In the field events, Fred Rule finished second in the men's high jump with a jump of 6-08, while Inna Turevsky and Marcus Turner finished third in the women's and men's triple jump. Turevsky with a jump of 35-08 and Turner, 45-10.75 respectively.
The running events were highlighted by the Salukis sweeping the top five places in the women's 600-meter run. Kelsey Toussaint (1:38.37) won, followed by Sherlenia Green (1:39.01) and Marquita Vines (1:39.24) finishing top three.
Freshmen Andrea Norris (7.23) and Caryce Porter (7.52) finished third and fourth in the 55-meter dash, while sophomores Maleah White (8.47) and Leslie Murillo (8.52) finished second and third in the 55-meter hurdles.
Overall, SIU won seven events in the unscored meet. The Salukis take a break before they host the Saluki Booster meet, January 21-22.
