Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Saunders and Wideman named MVC Field Athletes of the Week
04/01/2015 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
By Tyler Wooten
SIUSalukis.com
ST. LOUIS -- Saluki throwers Raven Saunders and Curtis Wideman have been named the Missouri Valley Conference Field Athletes of the Week, the Valley announced Wednesday.
MVC Women's Field Athlete of the Week
Raven Saunders | Freshman | Charleston, S.C.
Exactly two weeks off her incredible performance to win the NCAA shot put tile at the indoor national meet, Saluki freshman phenom Raven Saunders brought down yet another long-standing shot put record at the Bill Cornell Spring Classic on Saturday. Saunders won the shot put on a toss of 17.70m (58-01.00), breaking the all-time outdoor American Junior record by four inches, last set by Texas' Eileen Vanisi on June 1, 1991 (17.60m/57-09.00). Saunders now owns both the indoor (18.62m/61-01.25) and outdoor American Junior records, and she already ranks third all-time at SIU outdoors behind Saluki Hall of Fame member Amarachi Ukabam (17.97m/58-11.50) and three-time NCAA champion Jeneva McCall (17.89m/58-08.50). She currently ranks No. 1 in the NCAA by two feet over the second-best throw so far this outdoor season.
MVC Men's Field Athlete of the Week
Curtis Wideman | Senior | Evanston, Ill.
Returning hammer throw national qualifier and senior Curtis Wideman got his final outdoor season off to a strong start at the Bill Cornell Spring Classic on Saturday. Wideman opened the season with a seven-foot PR in the hammer throw at 66.46m (218-00), breaking the facility record and coming within two feet of former Saluki J.C. Lambert's school and all-time MVC record toss of 67.20m (220-06). Wideman currently ranks sixth in the NCAA and second in the NCAA West Region.
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This weekend, Saluki track and field will make the short trek up I-57 to Eastern Illinois for the Big Blue Classic on April 3-4.
Players Mentioned
