Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Saturday, January 13
Urbana-Champaign, IL
TBA
Southern Illinois University
at
Illini Open
Photo by: Will Becque
Track and Field continues 2018 indoor season at Illini Open
01/12/2018 | 1:02:00 | Track and Field
The one-day meet gets underway at 10 a.m. on Saturday
After more than a month off, the Southern Illinois track and field program continues the 2018 indoor season Saturday at the Illini Open, hosted by the University of Illinois.Â
Saluki Fast Start Review
The Salukis won 17 event titles and recorded seven top-10 school marks to open the 2017-18 season at the Saluki Fast Start on Dec. 9. Southern had 14 different athletes win an event title, including three who won multiple events. Kezia Martin led the way, as she picked up wins in both the triple jump and the long jump while Shafiqua Maloney and Johnny McGluen also won a pair of events. Â
Illini Open: Surveying the Field
The Salukis are one of 10 teams sending student-athletes to compete at the Illini Open. The field features plenty of familiar, regional foes in SEMO, SIUE, Saint Louis, DePaul, Eastern Illinois, Northern Illinois, Butler and Bradley.
Personal-Bests Aplenty
Southern's returners notched 21 personal-bests at the Saluki Fast Start on Dec. 9, with five Salukis tallying PRs in multiple events. Sian Person, Alexis Roberson and Ricky Hurley each set personal-bests in both the weight throw and the shot put while Matthew Bigelow recorded lifetime-bests in the 60-meter dash and the 60m hurdles and Mitchell Bland set PRs in the triple jump and the long jump.
Strong First Impressions
Johnny McGluen was the only Saluki newcomer to win two individual events, as he won both the 200m and the 400m. He also helped SIU post a comeback win in the 4x400 relay, as the Memphis, Tenn. native closed a nearly 60-meter gap on the bell lap. Kevin Turner and Justine Paton joined McGluen as Saluki newcomers to win in their debut. Turner posted a winning time of 8.34 in the 60m hurdles while Paton cleared 5'-3.75" (1.62m) on her second attempt to win the high jump.
More Debuts
Marcellus Fletcher, a sophomore transfer from Tennessee who was the No. 1 ranked triple jumper in the nation as a prep standout at William Byrd H.S., is set to make his much-anticipated Saluki debut in the long jump and the triple jump at the Illini Open.Â
The Saluki distance runners will also make their indoor debut. On the women's side, Sydney Spranger and Alexandra Martel are set to run the 800m, while Olivia Murphy will run the mile for the first time this season and Amber Ruiz-Bueno will make her debut alongside Chrissa Harris in the 600m. On the men's side, Anthony Newbern, Canoy Tyree, Lucas Horton and Warren Hazel are all set to run the 600m on Saturday.Â
Cracking the Top-10
Southern tallied seven top-10 school marks at the Saluki Fast Start, including three who did so in their Saluki debuts. Kevin Turner, Adam Kessler and Erin Diemer each notched top-10 marks in their first meet wearing the Maroon and White. Southern is one of three schools with two athletes ranked in the top-10 of the women's 200m dash, as they are joined by a pair of SEC schools in Texas A&M and Tennessee. Below is a list of the Salukis who posted top-10 school marks in their first meet of the 2018 season.
 Event (Mark) | Athlete | Rank
Leading the Valley
The Salukis currently lead the Missouri Valley Conference in nine (five women's/four men's) events. Shafiqua Maloney is the only female athlete to lead the Valley in two events and SIU has four of the five best marks in both the men's and women's shot put.
Athlete | Event | Time
Ranked Nationally
The Salukis have six athletes ranked in the top-10 nationally in their respective events. Southern's six nationally ranked athletes are more than double the next most in the MVC. Illinois State and Indiana State both have two athletes ranked in the top-10 nationally, while Missouri State and Loyola each have one.
Event (Mark) | Athlete | Rank
Athletes of the Week
Following the Saluki Fast Start on Dec. 9, Southern had three student-athletes earn MVC Athlete of the Week honors for their performances.Â
Shafiqua Maloney, Women's Track Athlete of the Week
Jared Kern, Men's Field Athlete of the Week
Kezia Martin, Women's Field Athlete of the Week
Saluki Fast Start Review
The Salukis won 17 event titles and recorded seven top-10 school marks to open the 2017-18 season at the Saluki Fast Start on Dec. 9. Southern had 14 different athletes win an event title, including three who won multiple events. Kezia Martin led the way, as she picked up wins in both the triple jump and the long jump while Shafiqua Maloney and Johnny McGluen also won a pair of events. Â
Illini Open: Surveying the Field
The Salukis are one of 10 teams sending student-athletes to compete at the Illini Open. The field features plenty of familiar, regional foes in SEMO, SIUE, Saint Louis, DePaul, Eastern Illinois, Northern Illinois, Butler and Bradley.
Personal-Bests Aplenty
Southern's returners notched 21 personal-bests at the Saluki Fast Start on Dec. 9, with five Salukis tallying PRs in multiple events. Sian Person, Alexis Roberson and Ricky Hurley each set personal-bests in both the weight throw and the shot put while Matthew Bigelow recorded lifetime-bests in the 60-meter dash and the 60m hurdles and Mitchell Bland set PRs in the triple jump and the long jump.
Strong First Impressions
Johnny McGluen was the only Saluki newcomer to win two individual events, as he won both the 200m and the 400m. He also helped SIU post a comeback win in the 4x400 relay, as the Memphis, Tenn. native closed a nearly 60-meter gap on the bell lap. Kevin Turner and Justine Paton joined McGluen as Saluki newcomers to win in their debut. Turner posted a winning time of 8.34 in the 60m hurdles while Paton cleared 5'-3.75" (1.62m) on her second attempt to win the high jump.
More Debuts
Marcellus Fletcher, a sophomore transfer from Tennessee who was the No. 1 ranked triple jumper in the nation as a prep standout at William Byrd H.S., is set to make his much-anticipated Saluki debut in the long jump and the triple jump at the Illini Open.Â
The Saluki distance runners will also make their indoor debut. On the women's side, Sydney Spranger and Alexandra Martel are set to run the 800m, while Olivia Murphy will run the mile for the first time this season and Amber Ruiz-Bueno will make her debut alongside Chrissa Harris in the 600m. On the men's side, Anthony Newbern, Canoy Tyree, Lucas Horton and Warren Hazel are all set to run the 600m on Saturday.Â
Cracking the Top-10
Southern tallied seven top-10 school marks at the Saluki Fast Start, including three who did so in their Saluki debuts. Kevin Turner, Adam Kessler and Erin Diemer each notched top-10 marks in their first meet wearing the Maroon and White. Southern is one of three schools with two athletes ranked in the top-10 of the women's 200m dash, as they are joined by a pair of SEC schools in Texas A&M and Tennessee. Below is a list of the Salukis who posted top-10 school marks in their first meet of the 2018 season.
 Event (Mark) | Athlete | Rank
- 60 meter hurdles (8.34) | Kevin Turner | 8th
- 200 meter dash (24.58) | Shafiqua Maloney | 2nd
- 60 meter dash (7.54) | Tyjuana Eason | T-3rd
- 60 meter dash (7.59) | Bri'Anna Branch | 6th
- 60m hurdles (8.63) | Kilee Hagerstrand | 6th
- Pole vault (11'-4.25") | Erin Diemer | 8th
- Shot Put (60'-11.50") | Adam Kessler | 8th
Leading the Valley
The Salukis currently lead the Missouri Valley Conference in nine (five women's/four men's) events. Shafiqua Maloney is the only female athlete to lead the Valley in two events and SIU has four of the five best marks in both the men's and women's shot put.
Athlete | Event | Time
- Shafiqua Maloney | 200m | 24.21
- Shafiqua Maloney | 400m | 56.23
- Chase Black | Pole Vault | 16'-1.75" (4.92m)
- Mitchell Bland | Triple Jump | 47'-7.25" (14.51m)
- Kezia Martin | Triple Jump | 40'-9" (12.42m)
- Jared Kern | Shot Put | 61'-2" (18.64m)
- A'veun Moore | Shot Put | 47'-5.75" (14.47m)
- Isaac Ingram | Weight Throw | 65'-9.5" (20.05m)
- Alexis Roberson | Weight Throw | 64'-7.75" (19.70m)
Ranked Nationally
The Salukis have six athletes ranked in the top-10 nationally in their respective events. Southern's six nationally ranked athletes are more than double the next most in the MVC. Illinois State and Indiana State both have two athletes ranked in the top-10 nationally, while Missouri State and Loyola each have one.
Event (Mark) | Athlete | Rank
- 200 meter dash (24.21) | Shafiqua Maloney | 6th
- 200 meter dash (24.33) | Tyjuana Eason | 9th
- Triple Jump (40'-9" // 12.42m) | Kezia Martin | 6th
- Weight Throw (64'-7.75" // 19.70m) | Alexis Roberson | 9th
- Shot Put (61'-2" // 18.64m) | Jared Kern | 7th
- Shot Put (60'-11.50" // 18.58m) | Adam Kessler | 8th
Athletes of the Week
Following the Saluki Fast Start on Dec. 9, Southern had three student-athletes earn MVC Athlete of the Week honors for their performances.Â
Shafiqua Maloney, Women's Track Athlete of the Week
Jared Kern, Men's Field Athlete of the Week
Kezia Martin, Women's Field Athlete of the Week
Players Mentioned
Multis
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Multi/Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints/Hurdes
/ Track and Field
Distance
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