Southern Illinois University
Billy Hayes Invitational
Track Squads Have Good Showing at Prestigious Billy Hayes Invite
05/08/2004 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
May 8, 2004
By Josh Magill
www.SIUSalukis.com
Bloomington, Ind. - Junior hurdler Emmanuel Daux's practice the day before the prestigious Billy Hayes Invitational on Friday payed off as he found himself in front once again after all the times were tallied.
Daux took first place in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.07, making it the sixth time this season he has hit the NCAA regional qualifying standard. In three of those instances, Daux ran his race in under 14 seconds, becoming just the fifth hurdler in Southern Illinois University history to break such a barrier.
A native of Linden, N.J., Daux also raced to an eighth place finish in the 200-meter dash, clocking in at 21.84. He was just .16 seconds faster earlier in the season at the Gatorade Classic.
The men's distance runners, Rob Duncan (junior) and Mike Rettig (freshman) both had season best times in the 800-meter run, with Duncan crossing the line in 1:53.17 for 16th place and Rettig hitting a mark of 1:58.11 for 35th. Freshman Hunter Sheldon had the best finish in the distance ranks at 15th in the 1500-meters, with a time of 4:06.29.
On the women's side, freshman Lindsay Wagner finished 10th with a time of 4:38.14 - as season best by nearly 10 seconds.
In the high jump, junior Aaron Robinson and sophomore Freddy Rule finished in a five-way tie for first place. The duo leapt a height of six feet, nine inches.
Women's jumper Katie Fesler was unable to clear the bar, finishing with a "No Height."
Sophomore pole-vaulter Ray Scotten took his usual position atop the field, winning the event with a mark of 17-05 - more than six inches better than the runner-up.
Fellow sophomore Jason Pochynok snagged ninth place in the long jump with a season best mark of 22-07.25, which was just more than a five inch improvement. Freshman Antwon Stapleton did just a bit better in the triple jump, leaping 47-10.50 for third place.
The women's throwers began and finished off the day with good performances, tallying three top 20 performances.
In the discus, sophomore Megan Cenkush led SIU in 17th place with a toss of 124-08, followed by sophomore Janine Batchelor in 25th, throwing a mark of 115-06.
Junior Venisha Williams recovered from a recent slump in the hammer throw to set a career best mark of 172-11, safely placing her in second place all-time at SIU. Only former Saluki Caryn Poliquin has thrown farther.
Cenkush returned in the Javelin to finish third with a throw of 124-11.
The Salukis compete in the Missouri Valley Conference Championship next weekend in Normal, Ill. on the campus of Illinois State. Results can be found at www.SIUSalukis.com.
