Busy day for Saluki Track and Field highlighted by Maier’s debut in the 10K

Thursday, March 28

Raleigh, NC

Southern Illinois University

Raleigh Relays

Busy day for Saluki Track and Field highlighted by Maier’s debut in the 10K

03/29/2019 | 10:36:00 | Track and Field

Raleigh Relays Results Bobcat Invitational Texas Relays (Day 3)

By: Will Becque, SIUSalukis.com

The Southern Illinois Track and Field team competed at three different meets on Friday, March 29. Southern had student-athletes compete at the Texas Relays, hosted by the University of Texas, as well as the Raleigh Relays, hosted by North Carolina State and the Bobcat Invitational, hosted by Texas State. The day was highlighted by Josh Maier's 10K debut in which he clocked the third-best time in school history.

Maier had a strong debut in the 10k at the Raleigh Relays, as he shaved more than a minute off his previous personal-best time to finish 11th in the 10k invitational. The 2018 MVC Cross Country Champion clocked the third-best 10K time in school history at 28:55.43. Maier's mark is just the third sub-29 minute 10k in program history.

Megan Krolak posted the fastest time in the MVC in the 3000m Steeplechase at the Raleigh Relays. Krolak set a personal-best by more than three seconds with her time of 10:46.38 to improve upon her fifth-best time in school history. Krolak placed 23rd in a crowded field of 56 runners. On the men's side, Chris Edwards opened in the steeple with his time of 9:50.23, which is currently the second-fastest time in the MVC.

Competing in the hammer throw for the second time in as many days at the Bobcat Invitational, Shauniece O'Neal was the runner-up and top collegiate finisher with her toss of 206'-11" (63.07m). Post-collegiate competitor Brooke Anderson won the event.

Staying in the circle, Nate Dyer was the runner-up and top collegiate finisher in the hammer with his season-best toss of 203'-11" (62.17m). Ricky Hurley also improved upon his season-best mark with his toss of 197'-1" (60.08m) to take fourth.

Madison Meyer set a personal-best in the long jump to place sixth out of 46 competitors. Meyer cleared 19'-4" (5.89m) on her second attempt. In the high jump, Justine Paton cleared 5'-5" (1.65m) to finish in a tie for fourth.

Savannah Long had a busy day in the hurdles. She ran the 100m hurdles for the first time this season at the Texas Relays and clocked a time of 14.38. She followed that performance up by taking fifth in the 400m hurdles at the Bobcat Invitational with a time of 1:02.49. Kira Williams also placed in the top-10, as she finished ninth with her time of 1:03.48 in her season debut in the event.

Genesis Ewell, running the 400 meter dash for the first time this season, opened at 55.16 to finish third in a field of 61 runners. It is the second-fastest time that she has clocked in her collegiate career in the event and is currently the fastest time in the MVC.

In distance events, Kayla Schiera cut nearly seven seconds off her previous best time in the 5K to finish sixth out of 33 runners. Schiera clocked a time of 17:48.86, which is just the second sub-18 minute 5K in the MVC this season.

At the Texas Relays, Bri'Anna Branch clocked a season-best time in 100m dash at 11.71. Branch took fifth in her heat and 21st overall.

Southern will close out competition at both the Texas Relays and the Bobcat Invitational tomorrow.