Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men?s Track Finishes Regular Season at Billy Hayes Invite
05/06/2004 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
May 6, 2004
By Josh Magill
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - There was no resting for Emmanuel Daux at Thursday's practice.
The day before the Southern Illinois University men's track and field team heads to its final regular season meet, the 26th annual Billy Hayes Invitational, Daux worked on his technique in the 110-meter hurdles.
Leaning against the decaying concrete stands beside the nine-lane track at McAndrew Stadium, Daux breathed heavy, yet controlled in the 80-plus degree temperatures. The junior from Linden, N.J. continually listened to assistant coach Enrique German's advice as he cleared five hurdles.
?Relax, relax. Be quicker, quicker,? German calmly yelled from his position on the side of the track. ?High hips. Bring your knees to your chest. You have to explode through every hurdle like it's the finish line.?
Daux, who qualified for the NCAA Regional Championships in his first meet this season, hopes he can shave some time off his season-best time of 13.87 - time German says can be found in fine tuning some racing techniques and continual strecthing that can affect stride.
?We are trying to save energy by not wasting any movements and streamlining the way we run, then we use it to get faster,? German said.
The Billy Hayes Invite, named in honor of former Hoosier head coach Earle C. Hayes, is expected to bring a multitude of talent to Indiana's Robert C. Haugh Complex in Bloomington, Ind. The meet is scheduled to begin with the women's hammer throw at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 7, and end with the men's 4x400-meter relay, which is slated for 8:20 p.m.
Senior Willie Davis, a 400-meter sprinter, bounced down the track at McAndrew Stadium Thursday, stretching his muscles and bettering his footwork. Pole-vaulters, high jumpers and long jumpers did the same along 30 yards of the football field turf. Davis won't stop working today either because he sees the Billy Hayes as his last chance to qualify for the NCAA regionals before the Missouri Valley Conference Championship. German watches him too, hoping he can coach them both at the regionals.
Everyone worked hard; no one rested prior to the meet.
Thursday's practice was no different than any other day for the men's track squad - no relaxing. And Daux remained silent and focused. He grabbed a quick drink of water, then back to the track. He stepped into the blocks and took off, under the watchful eye of German, through five more hurdles, barely skimming each one.
?Keep moving,? German said. ?You have to position your body so it goes forward on its own. Stay relaxed the whole time except when you plant your feet to attack the hurdle.?
Three distance runners, junior Rob Duncan, as well as freshmen Hunter Sheldon and Mike Rettig, race out of the stadium gate on their way to a three mile pre-meet warmup. Right behind them are three others not running at the meet, but they are to run seven miles on this day.
No one rests.
Daux burst out of the block, then stumbles, but is able to clear the first hurdle. He aborts his race line, pushing over the second hurdle. German is immediately there, asks if he alright, then they return to the practice. Communication between a student-athlete and his coach is extremely important. Rather than yelling toward his hurdler, German only has to give a simple signal. Daux knows what to do.
Again, Daux launches from the start line, wisking just over each hurdle. German smiles. Daux is on pace for a time of 13.60 seconds.
Final results and recap of the Billy Hayes Invitational will be posted upon completion of the day's action at the official web site of Saluki athletics at www.SIUSalukis.com.
