14 Salukis qualify for NCAA West Preliminary

Thursday, May 25

Austin, Texas

All Day

Southern Illinois University

NCAA West Regional

Photo by: Will Becque

05/18/2017 | 1:15:00 | Track and Field

By: Will Becque, SIUSalukis.com

The Southern Illinois track and field team has qualified 14 athletes across 11 events for the 2017 NCAA West Preliminary Championships, hosted by the University of Texas. The three-day event begins on May 25 and concludes on May 27.

The top-48 individual and top-24 relay declarations within the East Region and West Region earned berths to their respective preliminary meet. Combined events (Heptathlon and Decathlon), are not contested at the preliminary sites.

Twelve performers from each preliminary site advance to the NCAA Championships. Entering the weekend, the women's 4x100m relay (10th) along with Kyle Landon in the high jump (3rd), Jared Kern in the shot put (4th) and Freya Block in the hammer throw (5th) are ranked in the top-12.

A pair of Salukis qualified in multiple events. Warren Hazel will run both the 200m and 400m after he ran qualifying times in both events at the 2017 MVC Outdoor Championships, while Kyle Kling will throw both the shot and the discus. Kyle Landon, who recorded qualifying marks in all three jumps, will focus on the high jump at the NCAA West Prelims.

Five of SIU's 14 entries have previously competed at the NCAA West Regional, while nine will get their first experience at the meet.

This marks the fourth-straight season that Landon has advanced to the West Prelims in the high jump, and is coming off his best finish at the regional meet last season when he took fifth. Block will be making her third-straight appearance in the hammer throw, as will Nathan Schuck in the pole vault. Mystique Thompson, who has twice qualified in the 100m, will run the opening leg of the 4x100 relay and Hazel will run at the NCAA West Prelims for the second time in his career.

First time regional qualifiers include Bri'Anna Branch and Tyjuana Eason in the 200m, Lucas Horton in the 800m, Chad Weaver in the pole vault, Jared Kern and Kyle Kling in the shot put, Ricky Hurley in the discus and Isaac Ingram in the hammer throw. Shafiqua Maloney, who will likely run the second leg of the 4x100, will also compete at her first regional meet.

Competition from Austin is scheduled to begin on Thursday, May 25, with field events starting at 11 a.m. CT and track events beginning at 4:30 p.m. CT.

Schedule of Events | Live Video | Live Results
Thursday, May 25
11 a.m. - Women's Hammer Throw (Freya Block)
3:30 p.m. - Men's Hammer Throw (Isaac Ingram)
7:45 p.m. - Men's 400m (Warren Hazel)
8:35 p.m. - Men's 800m (Lucas Horton)

Schedule of Events | Live Video | Live Results
Friday, May 26
12 p.m. - Men's Pole Vault (Chad Weaver, Nathan Schuck)
4:30 p.m. - Men's Shot Put (Jared Kern, Kyle Kling)
5:45 p.m. - Men's 400m final (If Hazel advances)
6:45 p.m. - Men's 800m quarterfinals (If Horton advances)
7:30 p.m. - Women's 200m first round (Tyjuana Eason, Bri'Anna Branch)
7:55 p.m. - Men's 200m first round (Warren Hazel)

Schedule of Events | Live Video | Live Results
Saturday, May 27
1 p.m. - Men's Discus (Ricky Hurley, Kyle Kling)
6 p.m. - Women's 4x100 relay (Mystique Thompson, Shafiqua Maloney, Eason, Branch)
6 p.m. - Men's High Jump (Kyle Landon)
7:35 p.m. - Women's 200m final (If Eason and/or Branch advance)
7:50 p.m. - Men's 200m final (If Hazel advances)

Qualifying Marks
Women (Season Best Mark)
200m - Bri'Anna Branch (23.66), Tyjuana Eason (23.66)
4x100m relay - Mystique Thompson, Shafiqua Maloney, Tyjuana Eason, Bri'Anna Branch (44.33)
Hammer Throw - Freya Block (211'-3"/64.40m)

Men (Season Best Mark)
200m - Warren Hazel (20.89)
400m - Warren Hazel (46.38)
800m - Lucas Horton (1:49.83)
High Jump - Kyle Landon (7'-2.50"/2.20m)
Pole Vault - Chad Weaver (17'-1.75"/5.23m), Nathan Schuck (17'-1.75"/5.23m)
Shot Put - Jared Kern (64'-5.75"/19.65m), Kyle Kling (58'-8"/17.88m)
Discus - Ricky Hurley (179'-5"/54.70m), Kyle Kling (176'-10"/53.90m)
Hammer - Isaac Ingram (199'-3"/60.74m)