Track and Field readies for Indiana Relays

The Southern Illinois track and field team will head to the Hoosier State this weekend to compete in the Indiana University Relays inside the Gladstein Fieldhouse. SIU is one of 11 teams set to compete at the two-day event, which begins Friday at 5 p.m.

Top-20 in the nation
Five Salukis rank in the top-20 nationally in their respective events. Kyle Landon cleared 7'-3" (2.21m) and is tied for third nationally, effectively punching his ticket to the NCAA Indoor Championships in March. Jared Kern is ranked ninth in the nation in the shot, and has improved upon his previous mark at each of SIU's three meets this season. Warren Hazel has the 15^th-best 400m mark in the nation, while Freya Block and Isaac Ingram rank 19^th and 20^th in the weight throw, respectively.

Top times in the Valley
The Salukis hold seven top marks in the Missouri Valley Conference, led by Warren Hazel. Hazel has the top-marks in the Valley in both the 200m (21.53) and the 400m (47.24). Kyle Landon sits atop the men's high jump as he continues his quest to win his seventh-straight MVC high jump title, while Cara Engel has the top pole vault clearance in the conference. Additionally, Southern leads in three of the four throwing events, with Jared Kern (shot put), Isaac Ingram (weight throw) and Freya Block (weight throw) each atop the Valley rankings.

Climbing up the Ranks
Three Salukis improved upon their top-10 school marks at the Vanderbilt Invite. Hazel ran the 200m in 21.53, which is the fourth-fastest time in school history. Ingram continued his hot streak in the circle, as he set a lifetime-best in the weight throw to move up to sixth in SIU history. Kern, meanwhile, passed Olympian George Woods for sixth on SIU's all-time indoor shot put list with his toss of 61'-5.50" at Vanderbilt.

Salukis Sweep MVC Field Athlete of the Week Honors
Senior Kyle Landon was named both the Missouri Valley Conference Men's Field Athlete of the Week and the MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week while classmate Freya Block earned MVC Women's Field Athlete of the Week after stellar performances at the Vanderbilt Invitational.

Kyle Landon won the high jump, as he cleared 7'-3" (2.21m) on his third and final attempt to post his first win of 2017. He advanced with a first attempt clearance of 7'-1.75" (2.18m), and was the only jumper in the field to clear 7'-3".

Block earned MVC Women's Field Athlete of the Week honors for the third time this season, as she was the top-collegiate finisher in the women's weight throw at the Vanderbilt Invitational. She leads the conference in the event by more than two feet after she threw 64'-0.25" (19.51m) Friday night to finish second to 2016 Olympian DeAnna Price.

Welcome Back
Natalia Hajduk and Jonathan Vara made their indoor debut at the Vanderbilt Invite and both clocked personal-bests in the 3000-meter race. Hajduk, who qualified for the NCAA Midwest Regional during her first cross country season this past fall, finished the race in 10:34.99 while Vara, who also advanced to the NCAA Midwest Regional meet during cross country season, ran 8:43.10.

Fastest 400m
Alicia Reed clocked the fastest 400m time of the season for the Saluki women, as she ran 57.08 at the Vanderbilt Invite to place 17^th in the SEC-dominated field. Reed has steadily improved upon her mark each meet this season, as she's already cut two seconds off the 59.11 she ran at the Saluki Fast Start on December 10.

24's the magic number
Franklin Adams jumped 24'-1" (7.34m) to finish fourth out of 27 in the long jump last Friday. It's the second time this season, and fifth time in his indoor career, that the West Orange, N.J. product has leaped 24 ft. or further.

Raising the bar
Nathan Schuck cleared 16'-0.75" (4.90m) on his second attempt to place fifth at the Vanderbilt Invite. He is one of only three vaulters in the Valley to clear 16 ft. or higher this season.

Next time out
The Salukis host the Don DeNoon Invitational on Friday, Feb. 3 and Saturday, Feb. 4.

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Players Mentioned

Franklin Adams

Freya Block

Cara Engel

Natalia Hajduk

Warren Hazel

Isaac Ingram

Jared Kern

Kyle Landon

DeAnna Price

Alicia Reed

Nathan Schuck

Jonathan Vara

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