Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Saluki Track and Field Signs Six During Early Signing
12/07/2015 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
SIUSalukis.com
Dec. 7, 2015
CARBONDALE, Ill.- Southern Illinois University director of track and field/cross country Kathleen Raske has announced the addition of six student-athletes for the 2016-17 season. Genesis Ewell of St. Charles, Mo.; Savannah Long of DeKalb; Maddi Meyer of Carterville, Ill.; Olivia Murphy of Mandeville, La.; Alexis Roberson of Jefferson City, Mo.; and Nathan Stout of Glenville, W.Va. are the newest members of the Saluki program, signing National Letters of Intent or letters of acceptance during the early signing period.
"This recruiting class is significant as we start the new chapter of SIU track and field, especially given we have a new staff that was hired late in the summer," said Raske. "Given we were behind to begin with, we are super excited about this group, and it speaks to the strength of our institution and our program that we were able to bring in such a talented class in such a short period of time."
Genesis Ewell
Sprints
St. Charles, Mo.
Orchard Farm High School
Prep Personal Bests:
400-meter dash: 57.58
Ewell is a multi-talented sprinter from Orchard Farm High School. Ewell is a two-time state qualifier, finishing third in the 400 and eighth in the 100 at the 2015 MSHSAA Class 3 Track & Field Championships. As a sophomore, Ewell finished seventh in the 400 at the state meet.
Savannah Long
Hurdles
DeKalb, Ill.
DeKalb High School
Prep Personal Bests:
400-meter hurdles:62.44
100-meter hurdles:14.98
Long qualified for the state meet as a junior in the 300 low hurdles, the 100 high hurdles and was part of the 4x200 relay team that qualified. The DeKalb High School standout was the runner-up in the 400 hurdles at the USA Track & Field Junior Olympics with a personal-best time of 62.44 seconds. She was recognized as the Daily Chronicle's Girls Track and Field Player of the Year and intends to major in criminal justice at SIU. She is also a member of the National Honor Society.
Maddi Meyer
Multi-events
Carterville, Ill.
Carterville High School
Prep Personal Bests:
Long Jump: 18-1
400-meter dash: 57.58
200-meter dash: 25.42
The Carterville High School product won four medals at the 2013 IHSA Class 1A meet; third in the 400, fourth in both the long jump and 100 and fifth in the 200. The following season, Meyer finished second in the long jump and seventh in the 100 at the 2014 IHSA Class 2A meet on her way to being named The Southern Illinoisan's Girls Track Athlete of the Year. She is the daughter of SIU track and field alumna Brandi (Mock) Meyer and has yet to decide on a major.
Olivia Murphy
Distance
Mandeville, La.
Mandeville High School
Prep Personal Bests:
5K (XC): 18:36
1 Mile: 5:16.05
Murphy led the Mandeville High School girls cross country team to the 2015 Louisiana 5A state championship with a first-place finish. The Mandeville, La. native was the individual champion of the state meet with a time of 18:36. As a sophomore, Murphy took second at the Class 5A championship meet finishing the 3-mile race in a time of 18 minutes, 26.99 seconds. She was also named to the Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA) All-State track and field team for the 1600 and 3200.
Alexis Roberson
Throws
Jefferson City, Mo.
Jefferson City High School
Prep Personal Bests:
Shot put: 42-1
Discus: 137-11
The St. Charles, Mo. native won Jefferson City's first-ever Class 5 state shot put title at the 2015 Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Track & Field Championships. She is a three-time state qualifier, placing 14thas a freshman and eighth as a sophomore. She intends to major in exercise science at SIU and is a member of the National Honor Society.
Nathan Stout
Throws
Glenville, W. Va.
Gilmer County High School
Prep Personal Best:
Shot put: 58-3
Discus: 168-
Stout won the national championship in the shot put and placed fourth in the discus at the 2013 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) National Junior Olympics. He took fourth in the shot put at the 2015 AAU National Junior Olympics, and also is a two-time West Virginia state high school champion in the shot. In the classroom, Stout is ranked eighth in his senior class, intends to major in exercise science and is a member of the National Honor Society.
This concludes SIU's signing activity in track and field until the spring signing period begins.
