Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Kathleen Raske era begins Saturday with Saluki Fast Start Meet
12/04/2015 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
By: Will Becque
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Kathleen Raske era of Southern Illinois University track and field will begin on Saturday, Dec. 5 with the Saluki Fast Start meet at the SIU Recreation Center.
The meet, which features a field of six teams including two SIU teams, begins at 9:30 a.m. starting with the women's weight throw. There were several changes made to the meet schedule due to a larger than anticipated number of entries, so coaches and spectators are advised to look at the new meet schedule, which can be found here. The early season meet offers competitors and coaches a glimpse of what is to come; for Raske and her coaching staff it provides them with an opportunity to see some of their athletes compete for the first time.
"I'm excited to see where we are at," said Raske. "We learn a lot about our athletes in their first competition. We see them day in and day out and how they handle practice, but we get all sorts of new information when we see them compete for the first time. I'm excited to learn about our team and learn about each individual athlete and how they conduct themselves and how they compete in competition."
For Raske, a SIU Hall of Famer, she returned to where it all started by coming back to her alma-mater, and the place where her coaching career began, this fall when athletic director Tommy Bell hired her as the Director of Track and Field/Cross Country.
"At this point, after 26 years of coaching, this time of year its always important to see where our athletes are at," said Raske.
The Salukis will have some athletes wearing white, while others will wear maroon as part of an intra-squad meet, with SIU split into two teams.
"We are approaching this weekend's competition to one- see where we are at and to have some fun with the team with the intra-squad meet," said Raske. "And two- for those individual athletes that have the opportunity to get a mark out there that will hopefully get them on a national list."
DeAnna Price is expected to be one of those looking to get on a national list, as she was already picked to repeat as the hammer throw champion by Track and Field News. The reigning NCAA national champion in the outdoor hammer throw, Price is one of several Salukis who will compete as unattached.
"With an early season meet such as this were still learning so much about where everyone is at and trying to determine who might redshirt," said Raske. "We don't want to use a season of eligibility and compete someone right away in a uniform if were not so sure they might not redshirt. So to keep those options open, were competing quite a few athletes unattached to again- see where we are at and make some decisions later on down the road."
Maryville (Mo.), McKendree University, Saint Louis University and Chicago State round out the field of teams competing tomorrow.
Players Mentioned
