Salukis to compete at EIU Big Blue Classic this weekend

04/03/2014 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field

April 3, 2014

Big Blue Classic
Dates	April 4-5
Location	O'Brien Field -- Charleston, Ill.
Meet Info	Meet Schedule
Live Results	Live Results
Rankings	Men's National \| Women's National \| Regional Rankings \| Missouri Valley
MVC Weekly Notebook	April 1, 2014
Records	SIU Record Book
Media Guide	Media Guide
Social Media	@SIU_TrackXC \| Saluki Track and Field \| Saluki Athletics

By Tyler Wooten
SIUSalukis.com

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Saluki track and field will make the short trip up to Eastern Illinois this weekend for the Big Blue Classic for its second outdoor meet of the season on Friday and Saturday.

Southern will compete against 13 other schools -- eight of which are Division I -- in the scored meet this weekend. This is the second consecutive scored competition for the Salukis, who are coming off a successful meet at home last weekend at the second iteration of the Bill Cornell Spring Classic on March 28-29.

The Saluki men came away with the team title over reigning indoor and outdoor Missouri Valley Conference champions Indiana State, 180-156. SIU's women fell just short of the defending champion Sycamore women, 197-176.50. In total, SIU won 11 event titles -- including a record-shattering performance from sophomore Josh Freeman in the shot put.

Freeman, who recently broke SIU throws coach John Smith's 30-year-old indoor shot record on Jan. 25 and then his own mark again three weeks later, took down Smith's outdoor record in his first attempt outdoors in 2014. Freeman's second throw of 19.12m (62-08.75) set the new record and also set a new all-time MVC best -- reclaiming the top-spot for Southern after Smith's record was topped by UNI's Justin Romero in 2012. The sophomore currently ranks sixth in the nation and fourth in the NCAA West Region in the shot put. Nationally, less than two feet separate places two through seven.

After just one meet, Southern currently has seven student-athletes ranked in the national top-50 and an additional 18 Salukis that would qualify for the NCAA West Regionals if the season were to end today (to be a regional qualifier, student-athletes must rank in the top-48 in their region).

Southern's first event on Friday will be the women's hammer throw at 2 p.m., which will immediately be followed by the men's hammer throw. Friday's running events will begin at 6 p.m. with the women's 400 meter hurdles.

Teams Participating
Bradley
Dayton
Eastern Illinois
Grand Valley State
Illinois State
Indiana State
Judson College
Lincoln (Mo.)
Lipscomb
Northern Illinois
Northern Iowa
Saint Francis (Ill.)
Southern Illinois
Western Michigan

MVC Weekly Notes

FREEMAN DOES IT AGAIN
In less than two seasons, sophomore Josh Freeman has already cemented himself as SIU's top shot putter in either the indoor or outdoor season. This past weekend at the Bill Cornell Spring Classic Freeman took over SIU throws coach John Smith's last remaining shot put record with a winning throw of 19.12m (62-08.75), which also reclaimed the all-time MVC record for the Salukis after Smith's mark was topped by UNI's Justin Romero in 2012.

HOME SWEET HOME
This past weekend SIU hosted its only home outdoor meet before Southern hosts the Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships on May 16-18. The Salukis had a strong outing that they hope will be indicative of their success in May to topple reigning indoor and outdoor champions Indiana State. The Saluki men beat out the Sycamores 180-156, and the Saluki women came up just short against Indiana State, 197-176.50. Overall, SIU won 11 event titles in two days of competition.

RESTOCKING
Recently, SIU announced the first portion of its 2014-15 recruiting class and it looks to be perhaps one of the best in Saluki history. No. 1-ranked shot putter Raven Saunders chose SIU over BCS powerhouses Arizona State, LSU and UCLA in order to join the ranks of established throwers like Brittany Riley, Gwen Berry and Jeneva McCall. The Salukis also grabbed two top-notch pole vaulters in No. 1 male junior college pole vaulter Jonathan Walsh and No. 5 freshman girls pole vaulter Lindsey Murray.

Men's National Rankings (Top-50)
6. Josh Freeman - Shot Put - 19.12m (62-08.75)
17. Curtis Wideman - Hammer Throw - 63.83m (209-05)
41. Franklin Adams - Long Jump - 7.27m (23-10.25)
45. Kyle Landon - High Jump - 2.09m (6-10.25)

Women's National Rankings (Top-50)
40. Ashley Gaston - Shot Put - 14.84m (48-08.25)
45. Alyssa Allison - 800 Meter Run - 2:11.00
48. Sophia Lozano - Hammer Throw - 56.20m (184-04)

Men's Regional Rankings - NCAA West Region (Top-48)
4. Josh Freeman - Shot Put - 19.12m (62-08.75)
9. Curtis Wideman - Hammer Throw - 63.83m (209-05)
23. Franklin Adams - Long Jump - 7.27m (23-10.25)
27. Curtis Wideman - Discus - 53.00m (173-11)
28. Kyle Landon - High Jump - 2.09m (6-10.25)
30. Oscar Medina - 5000 Meter Run - 14:45.74
34. Zach Dahleen - 1500 Meter Run - 3:49.99
35. Juan Carrera - 3000 Meter Steeplechase - 9:26.80
36. Luke James - Triple Jump - 14.26m (46-09.50)
41. Josh Freeman - Discus - 50.95m (167-02)
41. Curtis Wideman - Shot Put - 16.35m (53-07.75)
43. Kemar Jones - High Jump - 2.04m (6-08.25)

Women's Regional Rankings - NCAA West Region (Top-48)
17. Krista Menghini - 3000 Meter Steeplechase - 11:01.67
22. Ashley Gaston - Shot Put - 14.84m (48-08.25)
26. Alyssa Allison - 800 Meter Run - 2:11.00
28. Sophia Lozano - Hammer Throw - 56.20m (184-04)
35. Ashley Gaston - Discus - 48.47m (159-00)
43. Alexus Scott - Hammer Throw - 54.32m (178-02)