Roberson Continues Hot Streak At Don DeNoon Invitational

01/24/2020 | 8:47:00 | Track and Field

By: Brandon Lindholm, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Competing in the fifth-annual Don DeNoon Invitational, the Southern Illinois University track and field program got off to a strong start on Friday night in the SIU Recreation Center.

The day got started with the pentathlon, which saw Southern's own Sydney Mitchell compete as the lone Saluki in the event. In her first collegiate pentathlon, the freshman placed seventh with a total of 2,336 points. Murray State held the top two spots, as junior Jessikha Ribeiro took first overall with 3,344 points, followed by sophomore Ashlyn Oren with 3,249. Mitchell fared well in her first action of the pentathlon, as she captured a first place finish in the long jump with a mark of 5.24 meters (17'-2") and took fourth in both the 800 meter (2:38.38) and 60 meter hurdles (9.87).

Alexis Roberson continued her hot streak on the first day of the Don DeNoon Invitational, as the senior thrower took first in the women's weight throw with a mark of 20.85 meters (68'-4.75"), earning her second-straight victory in the event. The closest competitor to Roberson is SIU's Shauniece O'Neal, who is currently taking the season off to prepare for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. O'Neal's top mark traveled 20 meters (65'-7.5"), giving her a 1.19 meter lead over the next collegiate athlete.

In the men's weight throw, Ricky Hurley took third with his farthest toss of 19.08 meters (62'-7"). Sophomore Peyton Taylor finished one spot behind Hurley in fourth, as Taylor launched his second-best toss of the year at 16.47 meters (54'). Sam Sikon was the final Saluki to compete in the event and came in sixth with a toss of 16.01 meters (52'-6").

Madison Meyer and Marissa Holmes tied for second the women's high jump by clearing 1.65 meters (5'-5"), while freshman Dea'yvion Smith took third by clearing 1.60 meters (5'-3"). Sophomore McKenzie Krich tied fifth with a mark of 1.55 meters (5'-1"), while Lauren Feagans rounded out the Salukis with her clearance of 1.50 meters (4'-11").

Gary Glenewinkel finished third in the pole vault as he was able to clear 4.45 meters (14'-7"), a mark that his personal best. Kyle Zeinemann and Trevor Thompson also partook in the pole vault, but both were unable to clear the entrance height and finished with no height. In her first attempt at the triple jump in her collegiate career, freshman Britney Mosby secured first place by recording a mark of 11.77 meters (38'-7"). The victory is the first

Day two of the Don DeNoon Invitational kicks off at 10:00 a.m. CT with the women's shot put, followed by the men's shot put and the men's high jump. The women's long jump is set to begin at 10:30 a.m. CT, followed by the men to wrap up the field events. Running events get underway at 11:30 a.m. CT with the women's 60 meter semifinals and finish with the men's 4x400 meter relay finals later in the day to close out the meet.

Click here to view the results from day one.

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