Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Track and field to host McDonald's Invitational
01/26/2006 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
Jan. 26, 2006
www.siusalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University track and field teams host the McDonald's Invitational Friday and Saturday Jan. 27-28 at the SIU Recreation Center.
The four-team meet will be the first scored meet for the Salukis and their final home meet of the indoor season. Visiting teams include Memphis, McKendree and Southern Indiana.
The meet begins Friday at 4 p.m. with field events. Competition will resume Saturday at 10 a.m. with the running events beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Results can be found following competition each day at www.siusalukis.com.
Meet notes can be found at http://www.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/silu/sports/c-track/auto_pdf/Notes
Last Time Out...
The Southern Illinois University track and field teams opened 2006 Friday - Saturday January 20-21, when they hosted the SIU Saluki Booster.
Southern posted two automatic marks, three provisional marks and broke a school record in the field events while earning six meet titles. SIU swept the top three spots in the men's weight (Mark Milleville, Brenton Siemons, Matt Weishaar), while taking two of three top finishes in the women's weight (Amarachi Ukabam, Brittany Riley) and women's shot (Ukabam, Megan Cenkush). The Salukis also took titles in the women's shot (Ukabam), women's 800 (Ty Davis), men's 200 (Felix Anderson) and the women's long jump (Bianca Stuart, 20-5.75). Stuart broke a 10 year old school record.
Up Next...
The Salukis host the McDonald's Invitational, January 27-28 at the SIU Recreation Center.
Women's team moves to 9th in the nation by trackwire.com
The Southern Illinois University women's track and field team has moved up in the national poll according to Trackwire.com. The Salukis, originally picked to finish the 2006 indoor season 20th, moved up to ninth following top performances at the SIU Saluki Booster over the weekend. After two meets this season, the Saluki women have three athletes with national marks in four events.
Field athletes rank among nations best
Amarachi Ukabam, Brittany Riley, Bianca Stuart, Mark Milleville and Matt Weishaar rank nationally so far this season in their respective events.
Athlete, Event (Rank)
Bianca Stuart,W Long Jump, (4th) Amarachi Ukabam, W Weight Throw (4th), W Shot Put (5th) Brittany Riley, W Weight Throw (2nd) Mark Milleville, M Weight Throw (6th) Matt Weishaar, M Weight Throw (18th)
Saluki throwers post two automatic, three provisional marks
The 2005 four-time All-American, Amarachi Ukabam, made an impressive start to her senior season, after just two meets of the indoor season she has posted one automatic and one provisional qualifying mark in the weight throw (71-02.50) and shot put (52-07.25). Teammate Brittany Riley automatically qualified in the weight throw (72-01.75), breaking a school, conference and facility record in the first meet of the season. On the men's side Matt Weishaar prosvisionally qualified for nationals in the men's weight with a throw of 64-4.50. Mark Milleville also posted a provisional mark in the weight at 67-09. Freshman Bianca Stuart in just her first meet as a Saluki provisionally qualified in the women's long jump with a leap of 20-5.75.
Ukabam holds national rankings by Track and Field News
Thrower Amarachi Ukabam is ranked in the top-10 in the United States in both the outdoor discus and shot put Track and Field News published in the January 2006 edition. The senior from Maryland Heights, Mo. is ranked among the top professional and collegiate athletes in the nation. Ukabam is ranked ninth in the discus following a solid season in 2005, with top finishes at the Mt. SAC Relays (third), NCAA Championships (seventh) and U.S. Nationals (eighth). The four-time 2005 All-American is also ranked 10th in the shot put with top finishes at the NCAA Outdoor Championships (sixth), NCAA Indoor Championships (seventh) and U.S. Nationals (10th).
Anderson Captures Meet Titles
Senior Felix Anderson captured the men's 400 (48.28) title at the opening meet of the indoor season, the Saluki Fast Start, Dec. 9. He turned around in his second meet, the SIU Saluki Booster, Jan. 21, to secure his second meet title of the season in the 200 (22.19). His 400 time of 48.28 currently sits first in the Missouri Valley Conference this season, his 200 time ranks third.
Stuart owns 10 year old school record in just first Saluki meet
Saluki newcomer Bianca Stuart got her collegiate track career off to a great start Saturday, Jan. 21 at the SIU Saluki Booster. The freshman broke a 10 year old school record in the women's long jump with a leap of 20-5.75 in just her first meet as a Saluki. The mark currently ranks fifth in the nation and first in the MVC.
