Southern Illinois University
Billy Hayes Invitational
Track and Field Athletes Wrap Up Regular Season at Indiana
05/06/2005 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
May 6, 2005
By Shalae Schulte
www.siusalukis.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Southern Illinois University's Shelby Brice finished second in the 3,000-meter run Friday night at the Billy Hayes Invitational hosted by Indiana. The freshman ran 10:12.76 to qualify for the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships in June.
To qualify for the USA Junior Nationals, athletes must be between the ages of 14-19 and pass the qualifying standards. Brice had to run under 10:55.00 in the steeplechase or 10:15.00 in the 3,000 during the outdoor track season. Brice, along with freshman thrower Brittany Riley, have both qualified for the Salukis this season. The two will compete June 23-26 in Carson, Calif.
Other top performances by the Salukis included two third-place finishes from jumper Antwon Stapleton. The sophomore posted a season-best in the long jump of 22-11.25 and a leap of 48-01.25 in the triple jump.
Freddy Rule finished fourth in the high jump with a height of 6-08.75. Fellow jumpers Todd Green (6-06.75) and Mike Chamness (6-04.75) finished seventh and 10th respectively. Green met a season-best mark, while Chamness posted his career-best at SIU.
High jumper Katie Fesler finished seventh at 5-03, while long jumper Jason Pochynok finished eighth with a leap of 21-11.75.
Running events included a 14th-place finish in the 800 for Rob Duncan in 1:53.24. Thomas Gentry placed 21st in the race as well, posting a personal record, 1:55.29 to secure a trip to the conference meet in one week.
Katie Birn ran 10:28.55 in the 3,000 with Brice to finish fifth.
Both Saluki teams now prepare for the Missouri Valley Conference meet in Cedar Falls, Iowa, hosted by Northern Iowa. The meet will begin Friday, May 13 and wrap up Sunday, May 15.
