Southern Illinois University
Sea Ray Relays
Salukis win four titles at Day Two of Tennessee Relays
04/11/2015 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
By Tyler Wooten
SIUSalukis.com
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Saluki track and field came away with four event wins after an impressive second day at the Tennessee Relays at the University of Tennessee's LaPorte Stadium on Friday.
The highlight of the day came in both college editions of the men's and women's pole vault, where Southern shined the brightest. Sophomore Cara Engel had a day to remember en route to her first career victory. Engel broke her previous career-best by four inches, clearing 4.00m (13-01.50) -- a height that would have broken SIU's outdoor school record only one week ago (before freshman Lindsey Murray set it at Eastern Illinois). With today's performance, Engel puts herself in contention for a spot at regionals, jumping up to 24th in the NCAA West Region and tied for 39th in all of the NCAA.
Engel also now launches herself up to second all-time outdoors behind Murray, giving pole vault coach Brian Porter the only two outdoor 13-foot female vaulters in school history. In fact, Porter's female vaulters own four of the all-time five 13-foot vaulters across both seasons in SIU history.
His vaulters weren't done yet, though. Fellow sophomore Katelyn Brown also had a career day, finishing second behind Engel at a one-foot outdoor PR height of 3.90m (12-09.50) -- a four-inch overall best. Brown now ranks fifth all-time at SIU and is tied for 42nd regionally this season. Sophomore Katie Trupp was right behind her in third place at 3.80m (12-05.50), and senior Caselyn Harding posted a five-inch outdoor PR at 3.80m (12-05.50), sixth all-time at SIU.
The Saluki men also ran away with the top two spots in the men's pole vault. Junior transfer Jonathan Walsh and sophomore Chad Weaver both cleared the same height at 5.01m (16-05.25), with the edge and the victory going to Walsh. For Weaver, that height is an outdoor career best.
Southern also got two wins from the throws events. Junior Josh Freeman continued his steady improvement this outdoor season with an overall season-best in the shot put, winning at 19.56m (64-02.25). That throw improves upon his place in seventh in the NCAA and third in the West Region this season. Senior Curtis Wideman also had a strong outing, finishing seventh at 17.75m (58-03.00), improving on his spot in eighth place all-time at SIU.
Fellow senior Ashley Gaston was able to come away with a discus title in her first action of the outdoor season, her first time throwing since finishing 13th in the shot put at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Gaston opened on a solid 53.05m (174-00), three feet off her career best that entered her into last season's NCAA Outdoor Championships. Junior DeAnna Price wasn't far behind in eighth place at 46.75m (153-04).
It wasn't all field for the Salukis, though, who were able to get in some good work on the track as well on Friday. Freshman Mystique Thompson continued her incredible first campaign with the Salukis with two high finishes in the 100 and 200 meter dashes. Thompson opened in the 100 by tying her exact PR with a wind-aided 11.86 seconds for eighth place -- which is also what she ranks all-time in SIU history. In the 200, Thompson exploded with a legal 24.38, the 10th-best time in school history. In less than one year in Carbondale, Thompson ranks on three all-time lists: the 100, 200 and indoor 60 meter dash (third, 7.55).
Sophomore Nikolai Gall sat out all of 2014 with an injury, but it appears he's getting close to his own freshman form in his signature event, the 400 meter dash. Gall finished sixth at a time of 47.90 seconds, his best since he won the 2013 MVC Outdoor title at 47.55.
The final day of the Tennessee Relays will begin for SIU at 9 a.m. with the women's shot put.
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Men's Discus (College):
5. Bradley Sauer - 48.61m (159-06)
Women's Long Jump:
5. Lauren Cheadle - 5.65m (18-06.50)
Women's High Jump:
T6. Cetrena Simmons - 1.65m (5-05.00)
Men's Long Jump:
8. Franklin Adams - 7.11m (23-04.00)
Men's 200 Meter Dash:
16. Tyrone Echols - 21.99 (wind-aided PR)
Men's 100 Meter Dash:
19. Tyrone Echols - 10.73 (wind-aided PR)
Women's 800 Meter:
14. Alexandra Martel - 2:14.70 (four-second PR)
Players Mentioned
