Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
SEMO Gatorade Classic
Men's Track Earns Fifth at Gatorade Classic
04/03/2004 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
April 3, 2004
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - It was almost a prediction when Saluki assistant head coach Enrique German said junior hurdler Emmanuel Daux would run the 110-meter hurdles in under 14 seconds. But whether he predicted it or not, it happened at the Gatorade Classic on Saturday, making Daux the fifth-fastest hurdler in school history.
Daux, who has qualified for the NCAA regionals the last two weekends, said after SIU's home opener last weekend that he knew it was possible for him to run under 14 seconds. He said it was just a matter of putting everything together - mentally and physically. Daux's accomplishment was made that much sweeter by coming in first place in the event.
Rend Lake College took first place on the men's side with 111.5 points, followed by Memphis in second with 101 points and Western Illinois in third with 100.5 points. The host, Southeast Missouri State finished in fourth with 97.5 points.
The men and women's track and field teams came away with third place in the combined team score at the Gatorade Classic. The Salukis posted a total of 174 points behind host Southeast Missouri State (256.5) and Southwest Missouri State (241).
Junior Anthony Acklin was eighth in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.96, while Daux and senior Willie Davis finished fifth and sixth in the 200-meters with times of 21.68 and 21.69, respectively. Sophomore pole-vaulter Ray Scotten even chimed in during the 200-meters to post a time of 23.11 for 16th place.
Acklin, who also ran the 110-meter hurdles, finished third in the event and improved his time with a mark of 14.42 - just .09 hundredths of a second from regionally qualifying. The time is also the 10th best in school history.
Junior Eli Baker and freshman Hunter Sheldon finished second and fifth in the 1500-meter run. Baker clocked in at 3:59.94, while Sheldon crossed at 4:02.49. Baker returned to win the 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:19.75. He was less than 10 seconds from cracking the records books in the race.
Junior Tony LaChiana followed sophomore Joe Byrne across the line by just two seconds in the 5000-meter run. Byrne's time of 15:13.35 was good enough for third place, while LaChiana finished fourth with a mark of 15:15.68.
The Salukis 4x100-meter relay team finished first with a time of 41.07, improving from last weekend's mark.
In the field events, junior Aaron Robinson won the high jump with a leap of 6-08.75, while freshman Antwon Stapleton finished fourth in the triple jump with a mark of 46-07.25.
SIU will return to action next weekend at the Mt. Sac Relays in Walnut, California. All results of the meet held from April 16-18 can be found at www.SIUSalukis.com.
