Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Track to Compete at SEMO Gatorade Classic
04/01/2004 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
April 1, 2004
By Josh Magill
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University women's track and field team has one major goal in mind this outdoor season - to win a Missouri Valley Conference title - but along the way and after just one meet, the Salukis have broken two school records and qualified four for the NCAA Mideast Regional meet.
This weekend, SIU travels to nearby Cape Girardeau, Mo., to compete in the SEMO Gatorade Classic, which is hosted by Southeast Missouri State. The scored meet will host 25 teams from the region, including Illinois State, Memphis, Murray State, Southwest Missouri, Southern Illinois-Carbondale, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Southern Indiana, Tennessee-Chattanooga, Western Illinois, Danville Community College, Austin Peay and Lipscomb.
The competition will be the second of the season for SIU and many athletes plan to make some progress toward that conference title goal. One athlete with aspirations of returning to the podium is senior thrower Danielle Lawary. A native of Belleville, Ill., Lawary proved to be the top shot putter in the conference two years ago after winning the title and tossing a career best 49 feet, 6.25 inches. The mark places her fourth on the all-time best list in Saluki history. Last weekend, Lawary qualified for regionals with a throw of 47-07.75.
"I hadn't even thought about regional qualifying," Lawary said. "My goal, that's part of it, but I want to throw farther - 50 (feet) and above. Qualifying for regionals is something I knew I could do, but wasn't really one of the top goals."
But, with such a high-powered throwing squad and continued rehab from a knee injury last year, can Lawary be the next SIU athlete to move to the top of the record books?
Ask four-time Olympic shot putter and women's head coach Connie Price-Smith and she will tell you that it's very possible.
"I think she's capable of hitting 50 feet or better. On the right day and with the right position, she could probably get close to the record," said Price-Smith, an SIU graduate who ironically sits just one spot and 5.25 inches better than Lawary in the record books. "I've seen her throw 50 feet multiple times in practice."
"I hope she can (pass my all-time mark). Records are made to be broken," Price-Smith added. "That's what makes people work really hard - to break records that were previously set. For her to break my mark would be a good thing."
Price-Smith says it would be more of an accomplishment to coach someone to do better in the shot put than she did because she wants to help those she coaches to improve. Lawary says that if a record comes that's okay, but it isn't a necessity for her.
"My goal is to do the best that I can do," Lawary said with a big smile. "If that's breaking records, then let it be."
The SEMO Gatorade Classic will be held Friday and Saturday, April 2-3, at the Abe Stuber Track and Field Complex. A schedule of events and results of the meet can be found at www.SIUSalukis.com.
Schedule of Events:
Friday, April 2
Field Events
4:00 p.m. Hammer Throw Men followed by Women
Saturday, April 3
Running Events
11:00 a.m. 5,000 meter run Men followed by Women12:00 p.m. 400 meter relay Women followed by Men12:15 p.m. 1500 meter run Women followed by Men12:40 p.m. 100/110 meter hurdles Women followed by Men1:00 p.m. 400 meter dash Women followed by Men1:20 p.m. 100 meter dash Women followed by Men1:40 p.m. 800 meter run Women followed by Men2:00 p.m. Fastest Kid In Cape (not scored)2:20 p.m. 400 meter intermediate hurdles Women followed by Men2:35 p.m. 200 meter dash Women followed by Men2:55 p.m. 3,000 meter steeplechase Women followed by Men3:30 p.m. 1,600 meter relay Women followed by Men
Field Events
11:00 a.m. Long Jump Women followed by Men11:00 a.m. Shot Put Men followed by Women11:00 a.m. Discus Women followed by Men11:00 a.m. Pole Vault Men11:00 a.m. High Jump Men followed by Women12:30 p.m. Pole Vault Women1:00 p.m. Javelin Women followed by Men1:30 p.m. Triple Jump Women followed by Men
