Southern Illinois University
Tiger Track Classic
Three Salukis win event titles at Tiger Track Classic
04/09/2016 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
By: Will Becque
SIUSalukis.com
AUBURN, Ala. - With close to 50 student-athletes competing this weekend, the Salukis were kept busy and excelled at the Tiger Track Classic at Auburn University's Hutsell-Rosen Track.
The highlight of the meet belonged to DeAnna Price. The reigning 2015 NCAA hammer throw champion continued to knock at the door of the American Collegiate record and the school-record, a throw of 72.51m (237'-10") held by 2008 SIU graduate Brittany Riley. Price uncorked a toss of 72.48m (237'-09'') to handily win the hammer throw title at the 2016 Tiger Track Classic, in a field that featured former Saluki Jeneva (McCall) Stevens. The throw was just 3cm short of breaking Riley's records but was still the longest in the eight-year history of Auburn's Hutsell-Rosen Track, and is the third-longest in NCAA history.
The three-time All-American now has the third-longest throw in the world, surpassing Iryna Klymets of Ukraine with her mark from Friday night. Price is the only collegiate thrower on the top-10 list, which includes two-time United States Olympian Amber Campbell, who has the fifth-longest throw in the world with a mark of 71.47m (234'-05''), set at the Shamrock Invitational on March 18.
Price was one of three Salukis to win an event title at the Tiger Track Classic, with fellow All-Americans Kyle Landon and Josh Freeman both posting wins.
Landon cleared 2.21m (07'-03'') to win the high jump. The Chester, Ill., native's clearance is the third-best in the NCAA West Region and tied for the fourth-best in the nation to date.
Freeman, meanwhile, hurled the shot put 19.60m (64'-3.75'') to win Saturday for the second time in as many chances. The Fox River Grove, Ill. native's throw is the longest in the NCAA West Region and the third-longest in the nation this season.
The Salukis posted a pair of runner-up finishes as well, with Josh Maier taking second in the 5000m and Ashanna Hodge claiming a runner-up finish in the 400m hurdles.
Maier ran the fourth-fastest 5000m time in the MVC this season, setting a PR by close to 19 seconds with a time of 14:26.92. Hodge, running the 400m hurdles for the second time this season, ran the third-fastest 400-meter hurdle time in school history, finishing second with a time of 59.18. Hodge's time is the fastest 400m hurdles time in the Missouri Valley Conference this season and is tied for the 19th-best time in the NCAA West Region.
Chrissa Harris set a PR in the 400-meter dash, running 54.50 to place seventh. Remy Abrought tied her lifetime-best in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.71, which was good enough for seventh in a crowded field of 56 runners.
Freya Block set a new PR for the second time in three meets Saturday, throwing 60.89m (199'-09") to finish seventh. Block's throw Friday is the second-longest throw in the MVC this season, trailing only Price, and is the ninth-longest in the NCAA West Region to date.
Jonathan Vara cut more than :30 seconds off his previous-best time in the 3000m steeplechase, finishing the race in sixth place with a time of 9:33.58 while Bradley Sauer threw the hammer 62.09m (203'-08") to finish fourth.
The Salukis return to action April 16 at the Missouri Quad.
Players Mentioned
