Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Spring Classic
Men's Track Regionally Qualifies Three at Spring Classic
03/27/2004 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
March 27, 2004
By Josh Magill
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The men's track team planned to train through the Saturday's Spring Classic at McAndrew Stadium, but the hard work could be what propelled four athletes to qualify for the NCAA regional meet in late May.
"You have got to come everyday and continue to work hard. It's work," junior hurdler Emmanuel Daux said. "Just continue to do what you have to do and things will continue to improve."
Well ... that philosophy must be right. Daux ran a time of 14.11 in the 110-meter hurdles, giving him the victory and the opportunity to run on the regional stage later this season. Daux, who transferred to SIU from Wallace State Community College in Alabama, moved into the sixth spot on the all-time list at SIU with the run.
"This gives me more confidence in the coaching that I'm getting from Coach (German) and what my ability is on the track," Daux said. "When I first got here, I felt like it might not happen, but every meet towards the end of my indoor season I've been improving. It just keeps giving me more confidence to keep working harder."
The Salukis finished just four points out of second place with 121 points. Eastern Illinois with 197 points and Illinois State with 125 points finished first and second at the meet. Western Illinois (117) and Murray State (22) rounded out the five competing teams.
Junior Aaron Robinson, who transferred from Paradise Valley Community College in Arizona, stepped up to win the high jump with a leap of six feet, 10.75 inches. The mark also qualifies him for the regional meet and ties him for 10th place on the all-time leader board at SIU.
"I want to try and improve every week," Robinson said. "I think I'll surprise some people, but I need to continue staying consistent more than anything."
A local hero of sorts, Eli Baker, who hails from Marion, Ill., returned to the track Saturday after sitting out for the entire indoor season with a stress fracture in his leg. Baker came out victorious in the 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9.33.09.
"It's really exciting to come back and get back in the swing of things in front of your home crowd," Baker said. "There wasn't as much competition as I'd liked to have had; I was running by myself a lot. That's hard mentally because you shut yourself down, but it was a nice starter for me."
Finally, after stating earlier in the week that he'd be happy if he cleared 17 feet, sophomore Ray Scotten broke his own school record in the pole vault by ? of an inch with a vault of 17-09.25. The mark also helped Scotten become the third regional qualifier of the day.
Complete results of the Spring Classic can be found at www.SIUSalukis, as well as the results of SIU's next meet. The Salukis will travel to Cape Girardeau, Mo. for the All State Classic on April 2-3, which is hosted by Southeast Missouri State.
