Landon and Lozano named MVC Field Athletes of the Week

Dec. 16, 2014

By Tyler Wooten
SIUSalukis.com

ST. LOUIS -- Saluki senior Sophia Lozano and sophomore Kyle Landon were named the Missouri Valley Conference Field Athletes of the Week, the Valley announced Tuesday.

Lozano, a senior native of O'Fallon, Mo., had a career-best performance in the weight throw at the Saluki Fast Start on Dec. 6 that launched her to the top of the national performance list. Lozano's winning throw of 21.57m (70-09.25) on her fifth attempt is a two-foot personal best that improves upon her place in fifth all-time at SIU and currently ranks first in the nation by three feet after two weeks at the top. Lozano is now only the fifth Saluki female to ever clear 70 feet in the weight and the seventh of either gender in Saluki history. Lozano is coming off a highly successful junior season that saw a conference title in the weight and a trip to the indoor national meet, where she finished with second-team All-American honors.

Chester, Ill., native Kyle Landon picked up right where he left off the outdoor season by winning the high jump at the Saluki Fast Start on Dec. 6. 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 and the MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week.

Saluki track and field will resume the indoor season on Jan. 16-17, in Lexington, Ky., for the Kentucky Invitational.