Kern breaks MVC Indoor Shot Put Record at Music City Challenge

Friday, February 10

Nashville, TN

All Day

Southern Illinois University

Music City Classic

Photo by: Will Becque

Kern breaks MVC Indoor Shot Put Record at Music City Challenge

02/11/2017 | 8:48:00 | Track and Field

Music City Challenge Results

Salukis tallied 20 personal-bests, four top-10 school marks and two school records at the two-day event.

By: Will Becque, SIUSalukis.com

Jared Kern broke Curtis Jensen's Missouri Valley Conference shot put record with a lifetime-best mark of 67'-2" (20.47m) Saturday to conclude the two-day Music City Challenge, hosted by Vanderbilt University.

Jensen's record had stood since 2014 before the Machesney Park, Ill. native stepped into the ring for his second attempt Saturday. With the throw, Kern now ranks No. 1 in the nation in the shot put.

Kern had two throws of 65' or further Saturday, and has now done so five times this season. He led from wire-to-wire in the win, as he got his first throw in at 61'-1.25" (18.62m), and then bombed his second toss to break his own school record. His second 65' toss came on his third attempt, as he uncorked a throw that measured 65'-10.50" (20.08m).

Saluki alum and five-time All-American Josh Freeman tried to keep pace with Kern, as he launched a pair of throws over 66', including his runner-up mark of 66'-7.25" (20.30m).

Kern's toss was one of two top-10 NCAA marks on the day, as Warren Hazel ran the 400m in competition for the first time in two weeks and didn't disappoint. The Old Roads, St. Kitts native blistered the track to win the 400m Saturday with an indoor PR of 46.26. It's the second-fastest time in school history, and Hazel now ranks No. 7 in the NCAA.

In addition to two top-10 NCAA marks, the Salukis tallied 20 personal-bests, four top-10 school marks and one conference record at the two-day event.

The Saluki women notched 12 personal-bests and a pair of top-10 school marks, which included a new school record in the 200m. Tyjuana Eason broke the 200m indoor record Friday night with a time 24.57, and Saturday helped the Saluki 4x400 relay team post the fourth-fastest time in school history. The quartet of Alicia Reed, Eason, Tyra Wooten and Genesis Ewell ran 3:45.17 to place sixth, ahead of relay teams from Memphis, Georgia Tech, Illinois, and Louisville to name a few.

The Saluki distance runners notched 11 of SIU's 20 personal-bests, which included Josh Maier's fifth place finish in the 3000m. The Alsip, Ill. native finished in a lifetime-best 8:19.96, and was joined by Cain Hassim and Jonathan Vara as Salukis that claimed PRs in the event.

On the women's side, Shannon Effron and Hillary Merrill both shaved time off their previous-bests in the 5000m, while Jessica Jump and Alexandra Martel both set PRs in the 800m.

The Salukis will next travel to Eastern Illinois University to compete in the EIU Friday Night Special on Friday, March 17.