Southern Illinois University
Pacesetter Quadrangular
Salukis sweep hammer throw at Day One of Pacesetter Quadrangular
05/01/2015 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
By Tyler Wooten
SIUSalukis.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Saluki track and field got off to an excellent start by dominating the hammer throw at Day One of the Pacesetter Quadrangular hosted by Indiana State on Friday.
Southern leads in both the men's and women's team scores after today's hammer throw, taking the top two spots in both the men's and women's competition. In NCAA quad scoring, only two athletes per school are allowed to score in each event. Four teams are in competition this weekend: SIU, Indiana State, DePaul and IUPUI.
Junior DeAnna Price entered competition as the NCAA's No. 2-ranked hammer thrower at 67.25m (220-08), and left closer to the national lead held by Bowling Green's Brooke Pleger (68.86m/225-11). Price topped out on her final legal throw of 67.72m (222-02), a facility record and two-foot PR that capped off an incredible field series for the three-time All-American. Price opened at 65.26m and never dipped below 65.13m, ending with two straight 67-meter tosses before fouling her sixth and final attempt. Today's performance improves upon her standing as the fourth-best in Saluki history, and opens her lead in the NCAA West Region to five feet.
If it weren't for Price, though, sophomore Freya Block would have had a facility record herself. For the second straight week, Block hit a huge PR, this time for three feet as the runner-up at 59.45m (195-00). That throw improves on her slot in ninth all-time at SIU and solidifies her spot at the regional meet, pushing into a tie for 24th in the West Region.
Senior Curtis Wideman took the men's title, coming painfully close to his own career best (67.38m/221-01) with a winning throw of 66.82m (219-03) -- yet another facility record in Indiana State's new Sycamore Athletic Complex opened last month. Junior Bradley Sauer was the runner-up at 56.74m (186-02), and senior Kyle Walker finished in the top-third as well in fourth place at a personal best heave of 54.24m (177-11).
Day Two will begin at 10 a.m. CDT with the women's 5000 meter run on the track and the women's pole vault, women's high jump, men's discus, women's shot put and men's long jump in the field.
Women's Team Scores (Through One Event):
1. Southern Illinois - 16
2. Indiana State - 11
Men's Team Scores (Through One Event):
1. Southern Illinois - 16
2. DePaul - 11
3. Indiana State - 7
Players Mentioned
