Southern Illinois University
Kentucky Invitational
Salukis sweep weight throw at Day One of Kentucky Invitational
01/17/2014 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
Jan. 17, 2014
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By Tyler Wooten
SIUSalukis.com
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Saluki track and field got off to a strong start at the Kentucky Invitational after sweeping both the men's and women's weight throw at Day One of the meet on Friday.
Day One began with a dominant Saluki showing in the women's weight throw, which was capped by a career-best performance by junior Sophia Lozano. Lozano won the weight title with a personal best launch of 20.60m (67-07.00), over two feet better than second-place finisher and fellow Saluki, DeAnna Price (19.89m/65-03.25). Lozano, a native of O'Fallon, Mo., beat her previous PR (66-08.00) by nearly a foot, which pushes her to seventh all-time at SIU in the weight throw.
Lozano and Price were followed by Ashley Gaston (third place) and Alexus Scott (fourth place), who each posted significant PRs as well. Gaston, a junior native of Centerville, Ill., beat her previous best of 18.40m (60-04.50) by nearly two feet with her third-place heave of 18.95m (62-02.25). Scott, a sophomore from Greenbelt, Md., also pushed her PR by over a foot with her throw of 18.36m (60-03.00). Entering competition, all four Salukis were ranked within the top-30 nationally in the weight throw.
The Salukis took the top two spots in the men's weight throw and four total spots in the top-10. Junior Curtis Wideman (18.59m/61-00.00) came out on top over sophomore Josh Freeman (18.35m/60-02.50 PR). Freeman has posted a personal best in the weight throw in each of SIU's last two meets and is now over two meters past his PR entering the season.
Also finishing in the top-10 for the Saluki men were Brian Cooper (sixth place, 17.54m/57-06.50) and Kyle Walker (seventh place, 17.28m/56-08.50). Walker, a junior Carbondale native and son of SIU head swimming and diving coach Rick Walker, has also posted a personal best in the weight throw in each of his last two meets.
The Kentucky Invitational will resume on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. with the high jump, long jump and pole vault.
Players Mentioned
