Southern Illinois University
NCAA West Regional
Josh Freeman qualifies for nationals in the shot put on Day Two of NCAA West Regional
05/29/2015 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
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By Tyler Wooten
SIUSalukis.com
AUSTIN, Texas -- Saluki junior Josh Freeman punched his second-straight ticket to the NCAA Outdoor Championships after finishing third in the shot put at Day Two of the NCAA West Regional at the University of Texas' Mike A. Myers Stadium.
Freeman, a junior native of Fox River Grove, Ill., stepped right into the ring and got to work, uncorking throws of 18.57m (60-11.25), 19.60m (64-03.75) and 19.35m (63-06.00) in his field series en route to SIU's second national qualifying bid this weekend. Freeman finished behind three-time NCAA Champion Ryan Crouser of Texas (20.03m/65-08.75) and UCLA sophomore Nicholas Scarvelis (19.60m/64-03.75) -- the same two he finished behind in 2014 when he was the third-place finisher as well.
Freeman is coming off his first-career First-Team All-American honors from the indoor season, where he finished eighth in the shot put. Thus far, Freeman and DeAnna Price (hammer throw) are the only two Salukis to have punched their tickets to the national meet.
Senior Ashley Gaston nearly punched a return ticket in the women's discus, but fell just out of contention after the final flight got their chance in the ring. Gaston's best of 52.78m (173-02) had her slotted in the final qualifying spot in 12th before the final round of throws knocked her down to 16th -- five spots ahead of her qualifying rank (21st). DeAnna Price finished 35th at 48.77m (160-00), and freshman Raven Saunders fouled out in Flight One.
Also almost qualifying was freshman Lindsey Murray, who finished tied for 18th in a stacked women's pole vault field at a final height of 4.14m (13-07.00). To qualify, she would have had to clear a school-record height of 4.24m (13-11.00). Murray, a native of nearby Harrisburg, Ill., finished ninth at the NCAA Indoor Championships in March. Also in competition in Austin were Stephen F. Austin's Demi Payne and defending NCAA indoor champion Sandi Morris of Arkansas, who own nine of the top-10 clearances in collegiate history -- all coming this outdoor season.
Other Saluki competitors on Day Two included Bradley Sauer (22nd, 60.80m/200-05) and Curtis Wideman (32nd, 59.34m/194-08) in the hammer throw, and junior Remy Abrought (38th, 13.71) in the 100 meter hurdles prelims. Southern's final competitor of the evening was senior Krista Menghini, who finished 31st in the 3,000 meter steeplechase at 10:45.20 after entering in the final qualifying spot in 48th.
Day Three will be the lightest for the Salukis, with Nathan Schuck and Jonathan Walsh in the men's pole vault at 1 p.m., followed by Luke James in the triple jump and a quartet of Salukis in the women's shot put at 6 p.m.
| SaturdaySchedule (May 30) - All Times Central | ||
| Time | Athlete | Event |
| 1:00 p.m. | Nathan Schuck Jonathan Walsh | Men's Pole Vault (Flight 2) |
| 6:00p.m. | Ashley Gaston (Flight 4) DeAnna Price (Flight 3) Raven Saunders (Flight 4) Alexus Scott (Flight 2) | Women'sShot Put |
| 6:00 p.m. | Luke James | Men'sTriple Jump (Flight 4) |
Players Mentioned
