Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Track & Field set to compete at MVC Championships
02/25/2016 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
By: Will Becque
SIUSalukis.com
| MVC Indoor Track & Field Championships | |
| Date | Saturday/Sunday, Feb. 27-28, 2016 |
| Time | Schedule of Events |
| Location | Cedar Falls, Iowa/UNI Dome |
| Video (Saturday) | ESPN3 |
| Video (Sunday) | ESPN3 |
| Heat/Lane Assignments | Found Here |
| Live Results | Found Here |
| Social Media | @SIU_TrackXC |
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The Southern Illinois track & field teams travel to Cedar Falls to compete at the 2016 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships, hosted by the University of Northern Iowa, Saturday through Sunday at the UNI-Dome.
The MVC Championships is a homecoming of sorts for Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Kathleen Raske, who will be coaching her alma-mater in a championship setting for the first time.
"This first championship for me as the new director is going to be very telling and very revealing as I learn about this team," said Raske. "I have not seen this team in action in a championship setting. So I am looking at this team and seeing how they operate and how we unify as a team, which is really one of the most important things."
The Salukis, while ranked No. 24 in the most recent United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA DI Men's National Team Rankings, were picked to finish fifth in the pre-championship poll released by the Missouri Valley Conference. The SIU women were picked to finish fourth, while Wichita State was picked to win both the men's and women's championships.
When asked if her team is using the pre-championship poll results as motivation heading into the meet, Raske responded, "absolutely, its motivation. We're not a fourth and fifth type of team. We're trying to up-score and move up the latter.
The message from Raske and her first-year coaching staff heading into the MVC Championships is clear- do what the Salukis have been doing well all season and to believe.
"The main message is to do what they've been doing well all season," said Raske. "And to believe in themselves. That they can, and will, perform at their best because it counts the most."
The SIU men will be looking for their first MVC Indoor Track & Field Championship since 2012, while the women will be looking to take home an indoor conference championship for the first time since 2009.
"Walking out of this championship, if I can say as a coach that clearly, across the board, we performed at our best when it counted the most the results will fall into place and we will see where we end up," said Raske.
Junior Kyle Landon (high jump) and senior Josh Freeman (shot put) will be looking to repeat as indoor MVC champions, while junior Remy Abrought (60-meter hurdles) and senior Bradley Sauer (weight throw) will try to improve upon their runner-up finishes from a year ago.
The two-day event will be carried on The Valley on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app. Coverage begins Saturday at 6:15 p.m. and kicks off on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Following the 2016 MVC Indoor Track & Field Championships, the Salukis will have one week off from competition prior to the NCAA Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Alabama on March 11 and 12.
SIU Men in the Top-50
| Rank | Name | Event | Mark |
| 5 | Kyle Landon | High Jump | 7' 4.25"/2.24m |
| 7 | Josh Freeman | Shot Put | 64' 6.5"/19.67m |
| 6 | Bradley Sauer | Weight Throw | 72' 4.5"/22.06m |
| 48 | Isaac Ingram | Weight Throw | 65' 4"/19.91m |
SIU Women in the Top-50
| Rank | Name | Event | Mark |
| 27 | Alexus Scott | Shot Put | 53' 11"/16.43m |
| 27 | Freya Block | Weight Throw | 66' 4.25"/20.22m |
| 33 | Alexus Scott | Weight Throw | 65' 3.5"/19.90m |
Players Mentioned
