Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Kyle Landon named MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week
12/10/2014 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
By Tyler Wooten
SIUSalukis.com
ST. LOUIS -- Southern Illinois track and field sophomore Kyle Landon was named the Missouri Valley Conference's Male Scholar-Athlete of the Week, the Valley announced Wednesday.
Landon picked up right where he left off the outdoor season by winning the high jump at this past Saturday's Saluki Fast Start. The outdoor All-American won by tying his overall personal best on a clearance of 2.20m (7-02.50), the same height that earned him a tie for third at the outdoor national meet in June which also improves upon his place in fifth all-time at SIU indoors. As of right now, Landon's mark is ranked No. 1 in the nation and should qualify him for indoor nationals; only 12 jumpers bested 2.20m last season. For his efforts, Landon was named the USTFCCCA's Male National Athlete of the Week. He maintains a 3.90 grade-point average and majors in accounting.
Landon is coming off a historically successful freshman campaign at SIU. He became the 146th All-American in SIU track history, as well as the first Saluki male to do so in the high jump since Olympian Cameron Wright (indoors 1996, outdoors 1995). His third-place finish is the highest by any Saluki male outdoors since Olympian and two-time NCAA champ Darrin Plab won the 1992 high jump title outdoors. His finish also put Southern's men on the scoresheet at the national meet with 5.5 meet points and a tie for 42nd place, the highest finish for the Saluki men outdoors since 2004 (11th). Individually, his 5.5 points already rank 21st all-time at SIU outdoors and 29th all-time regardless of season.
Up next for Landon and the Salukis is the Kentucky Invitational in Lexington, Ky., on Jan. 16-17.
Players Mentioned
