Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Three Salukis set to compete at NCAA Indoor Championships
03/09/2016 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
| NCAA Indoor Championships | |
| Dates | Fri., March 11 Sat., March 12 |
| Location | Birmingham, Ala. - Birmingham CrossPlex |
| Meet Info | Schedule | Men's Start Lists (Day 1) | Men's Start Lists (Day 2) |
| Video | Day One: ESPN3 - 6:25 p.m. EST Day Two: ESPN3 - 4:55 p.m. EST |
| NCAAChampionship Central | Championship Central |
| NationalRankings | National Top-25 (Pre-Championship) Saluki Men: 20th |
| Performance Lists | Men's National | Women's National |
| Records | SIU Record Book |
| SIUSocial Media | @SIU_TrackXC  | Saluki Track and Field  |
By: Will Becque
SIUSalukis.com
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The final competition of the indoor season is upon the Southern Illinois track and field program this weekend as three individuals will return to the CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala., to compete in the 2016 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, March 11-12. Kyle Landon (high jump), Bradley Sauer (weight throw) and Josh Freeman (shot put) will all represent the SIU men at the national competition.
The top-16 declared athletes nationally in each event compete in the NCAA Indoor Championships, with the top-eight finishers earning First-Team All-American status, and places nine-through-16 receiving Second-Team All-American distinction.
"We've got two seniors and one junior going [to the national meet] who are all experienced at the national level, which will certainly play to their favor," said SIU Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Kathleen Raske. "A lot of coaches say just do what you did to get there, and you'll do pretty well. By and large that's true, however, we're looking to do more than that. Especially given we have two seniors. We want them to finish out their indoor careers at their best when it counts the most."
Landon, Freeman and Sauer will be vying to become SIU's first men's indoor national champions since Michael Franks won the 400-meter dash in 1985. Last season, Southern sent seven to the national meet and came away with five First-Team All-American honors, two of which went to Landon and Freeman. It marked the most indoor All-Americans for the SIU men since 1984.
"This is definitely the year of the men for Saluki track and field," said Raske. "I want to see our men step up and finish really high in the national championship. To have three in the top-10 is pretty special. We have the potential to put SIU on the map for men's track and field, which we haven't done in a while."
Landon is SIU's top-ranked competitor, entering the high jump as the third seed. He returns to the national meet after tying for seventh in the high jump with a clearance of 2.20m (7'-02.50") a year ago. In doing so, the Chester, Ill., native became just the third Saluki male high jumper to be an All-American in both the indoor and outdoor season, joining the ranks of Olympians Darrin Plab and Cameron Wright. Landon is fresh off being named the Missouri Valley Conference Most Outstanding Field Athlete after shattering the meet record with a personal-best clearance of 2.25m (7'-04.50"). He has won the high jump in all five meets he's competed in this season.
"We hope [Landon's] undefeated season continues," quipped Raske. "That's very motivating for Kyle. He knows what its going to take to be up there, and he's going to go after it. He's experienced and so much more consistent. He's arrived in terms of being a really high-level, consistent jumper."
Freeman will be making his third-straight appearance at indoor nationals, having finished eighth last year with a toss of 18.69m (61-04.00) to earn First-team All-American honors. The Fox River Grove, Ill., native enters Saturday as the seventh seed, and has won an event title at six of seven meets this season, including a win in the shot put at the MVC Indoor Championships two weeks ago despite twisting his ankle prior to throwing.
"[Josh] is so very talented and has done thousands and thousands of throws in his career," said Raske. "He's been able to lift and do all the prep work this week. I have no doubt when it comes time to throw, he will throw extremely well."
Sauer will be the sixth seed in the weight throw, having won the first MVC indoor title of his career two weeks ago. The redshirt senior from Murphysboro, Ill. has won four-straight event titles, and has twice thrown 22.06m (72'-04.50") during that stretch. Sauer is back at the national meet after finishing 13th at the 2013 NCAA Indoor Championships to earn Second-Team All-American honors.
"[Sauer] is a guy you have to be really happy for," said Raske. "He knows he's capable of doing something at the national meet, and that's been on his mind for his entire career."
The NCAA Indoor Championships will begin on Friday, March 11 in Birmingham, Alabama, with ESPN3 to broadcast the meet, beginning at 6:25 p.m. on Friday. Sauer is up first, as he will throw at 5 p.m. on Friday, followed by Landon jumping at 7:55 p.m. Freeman will throw the shot Saturday at 2 p.m.
Players Mentioned
