Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Arkansas Invitational
Men's Track Does Well at McDonnell Invite Despite Rain
04/12/2004 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
April 12, 2004
By Josh Magill
www.SIUSalukis.com
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - After a 60-minute rain delay, the John McDonnel Invitational got underway, but the inclement weather moved events such as the pole vault and high jump indoors to the Randall Tyson Track Center.
Sophomore pole-vaulter Ray Scotten earned his trademark win, jumping a school record of 18 feet, .75 inches. The mark was another regional qualifying mark for Scotten, who in the first meet of the season qualified for the NCAA regional meet and broke his own school record.
But this win had its own stamp on it ...
Scotten, with his jump, has now qualified for the 2004 Olympic Trials. He has met the B qualifying standard for the Olympic Trials, but is just three-tenths of an inch short of the A standard.
"It was just outstanding," men's head coach Cameron Wright told the Daily Egyptian. "There were two other competitors who had jumped 18-08 at one point in their life, and Ray beat them both and really crushed then both."
Junior Aaron Robinson also did well, considering the high jump also moved indoors. Robinson finished second with a leap of 6-08.75, which was just two inches short of the winner. A transfer from Paradise Valley Community College, Robinson regionally qualified for the high jump three weeks ago. He was followed in fifth place by sophomore Freddy Rule, who jumped 6-06.75.
Freshman Antwon Stapleton grabbed sixth place in the triple jump with a leap of 46 feet, 6.75 inches. The event was one of many contested indoors.
Junior Tony LaChiana was the only Saluki running in the 3000-meter run, finishing 13th with a time of 8:48.90. In the 3000-meter steeplechase, sophomore Joe Byrne and junior Eli Baker finished third and sixth, respectively. Byrne, who crossed the line in 9:20.47, was just about 12 seconds from qualifying for the regional meet in the event, while Baker ran the race in 9:41.40.
Senior Willie Davis ran the 400-meter dash with a time of 48.10 in his first attempt this season, finishing fourth in the event. Freshman Hunter Sheldon added another top five finish in the 800-meters with a time of 1:55.92.
Finishing out the day, junior Emmanuel Daux continued his string of success in the 110-meter hurdles with a third place finish after running the race in 14.09 seconds - his third regional qualifying mark in the event this season.
The Salukis will return to action next weekend at the Mt. Sac Relays in Walnut, Calif. on April 16-18. Results can be found at www.SIUSalukis.com.
