Salukis continue 2019 indoor season at Jim Green Invitational

01/10/2019 | 4:42:00 | Track and Field

The two-day meet, hosted by the University of Kentucky, begins on Friday with the weight throw.

By: Will Becque, SIUSalukis.com

After more than a month off, the Southern Illinois track and field program continues the 2019 indoor season Saturday at the Jim Green Invitational, hosted by the University of Kentucky. The two-day meet gets underway on Friday, Jan. 11 at 3 p.m. with the weight throw, followed by the high jump competition and the distance medley relay. Field events begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12, while running events start at 12 p.m.

Saluki Fast Start Review

The Salukis won 12 event titles and recorded a pair of top-10 school marks to open the 2018-19 season at the Saluki Fast Start on Dec. 8. Southern had 11 different athletes win an event title, which included a sweep of the throwing events.

Jim Green Invitational: Surveying the Field

The Salukis are one of 20 teams sending student-athletes to compete at the Jim Green Invitational. The field includes Ball State, Butler, Cincinnati, Indiana, Miami (OH), Ohio State, Kentucky and Xavier, amongst others. Four men's programs that will compete over the weekend are ranked in the top-35 of the most recent USTFCCCA National Poll- No. 11 Indiana, No. 25 Ohio State, No. 29 Kentucky and No. 34 Akron while two top-25 women's programs will be in action- No. 10 Kentucky and No. 19 Ohio State.

Personal-Bests Aplenty

Justine Paton won the high jump at the Saluki Fast Start for the second-straight season and was one of 11 returners to set a PR in the season-opening meet. She cleared an indoor personal-best of 5'-5.75" (1.67m). Alexis Roberson threw a personal-best 67'-6.75" (20.59m) in the weight throw to win the event while Shauniece O'Neal and Nikki Freeman also PR'd in the weight. In the shot, Sam Sikon recorded a PR of 58'-2.50" (17.74m) to finish second while on the women's side, Aveun Moore and Kayleigh Conlon both set personal-bests to place first and second, respectively. Moore threw 49'-9" (15.16m) while Conlon recorded a mark of 47'-5.25" (14.46m).

Strong First Impressions

Willie Rodgers was one of two Saluki newcomers to win in their debut. Rodgers cleared 6'-7" (2.01m) with a clean slate to pick up his first win while donning the Maroon and White. Tredaja Harris joined Rodgers in the winners circle at her Saluki debut, as she helped the women's 4x400 relay team to a win by nearly 26 seconds.

Debut Coming Up

Several Saluki distance runners will make their indoor debut at the Jim Green Invitational. On the women's side, Amber Ruiz-Bueno will make her season debut in the 800m, while Megan Krolak and Kayla Schiera will open their 2019 indoor season in the 3K. On the men's side, Canoy Tyree, Gavin Hartley and Brandon Schnitker are all entered into the 800m while Cain Hassim, Jacob DeWitt and Reid Parsons will run the 3000m for the first time this indoor season.

Cracking the Top-10

Southern tallied two top-10 school marks at the Saluki Fast Start. Theo Phipps (60m hurdles) and Alexis Roberson (weight throw) set personal-bests in their respective events to each crack the top-10.

Event (Mark) | Athlete | Rank
60 meter hurdles (8.23) | Theo Phipps | 7th
Weight Throw (67'-6.75"/20.59m) | Alexis Roberson | 8th

Leading the Valley

The Salukis have eight athletes ranked in the top-25 nationally in their respective events, including six in throwing events. Southern's eight athletes ranked in the top-25 are currently the most in the Missouri Valley Conference, with Illinois State (7), Indiana State (5) and Loyola (4) close behind. Missouri State, Drake and Northern Iowa each have one athlete ranked in the top-25.

Event (Mark) | Athlete | Rank
200 meter dash (21.70) | Johnny McGluen | 15th
200 meter dash (24.34) | Tyjuana Eason | 11th
Shot Put (58'-10.25"/17.94m) | Ricky Hurley | 14th
Shot Put (58'-2.5"/17.74m) | Sam Sikon | 18th
Shot Put (57'-9" /17.60m) | Adam Kessler | 22nd
Shot Put (49'-9" /15.16m) | Aveun Moore | 22nd
Weight Throw (67'-6.75"/20.59m) | Alexis Roberson | 8th
Weight Throw (62'-6.75"/19.07m) | Shauneice O'Neal | 21st

Athletes of the Week

Following the Saluki Fast Start on Dec. 8, Johnny McGluen took home Missouri Valley Conference Men's Track Athlete of the Week. McGluen won the 400m, took second in the 200m dash and helped SIU to a runner-up finish in the 4x400 relay. The Memphis, Tenn. native ran 49.83 to win the quarter-mile and later clocked the fastest 200m time in the MVC at 21.70. Not only is his time the fastest in the Valley thus far this season, but it also ranks 15th in the NCAA.