Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Landon earns MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week
02/28/2017 | 10:54:00 | Track and Field
Marks the fourth time this season, and the 11th time in his career, that the four-time All-American has taken home the weekly honor.
ST. LOUIS – For the fourth time this season, and the 11th time in his career, Southern Illinois senior jumper Kyle Landon has been selected as the Missouri Valley Conference male Scholar-Athlete of the Week, the league announced Tuesday.
Landon set or tied his lifetime-best in all three jumps en route to scoring 26 of SIU's 108 points and earning Co-Most Valuable Athlete honors at the 2017 MVC Indoor Championships this past weekend. The Chester, Ill. native was also honored as the MVC Most Outstanding Male Field Athlete, becoming just the second back-to-back winner of the award since its inception prior to the 2000-01 indoor meet.
The four-time All-American scored eight points with a runner-up finish in the long jump on Saturday, and opened Sunday by clearing 7'-4.50" (2.25m) in the high jump to not only tie the meet record, but win the MVC high jump title for the seventh time in his career. The four-time All-American became just the second male jumper in Valley history to win four-straight indoor high jump titles, and the first since 1984, joining Saluki great Stephen Wray.
He later added eight more points to his haul with a herculean effort in the triple jump in which he jumped 50'-2.75" (15.31m). Landon shattered his previous personal-best by more than two feet.
The two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American will go into the NCAA Indoor National Championships tied for No. 2 on the NCAA list after his clearance at the MVC Indoor Championships.
Landon carries a 3.75 GPA as an accounting major.
To qualify for Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week laurels, student-athletes must carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20, completed at least one academic year at a Valley institution and must be at least a sophomore in academic standing. Redshirt freshmen and first-year junior college transfers are not eligible. In addition to the academic qualifications, student-athletes will be evaluated on their athletic performance for a one-week period.
Players Mentioned
