Saluki Track and Field Heads To Jim Green Invitational

Friday, January 10

Lexington, KY

Southern Illinois University

Jim Green Invite

01/09/2020 | 1:00:00 | Track and Field

By: Brandon Lindholm, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE Ill. – Heading into the new year, the Southern Illinois track and field program looks to continue its 2019-20 indoor season on Friday at the Jim Green Invitational, hosted by the University of Kentucky. The two-day meet gets started on Friday, Jan. 10 at 12:30 p.m. with three field events, including the men and women's high jump, then followed by the weight throw and finishes up with the long jump. Track events get underway Friday at 4 p.m. On Saturday, competition begins at 9 a.m. with the shot put and ends with the men's 4x400m relay race at 3:10 p.m.

Last Time Out

The Salukis won eight event titles and recorded three top-10 marks at the season-opening Saluki Fast Start on Dec. 7. Newcomer Clint Meyer placed himself seventh in program history in the shot put with a mark of 62'3.25", while Devin Pringle tied eighth in program history with his time of 6.88 in the 60m dash. Erin Diemer secured a victory in the pole vault by clearing 12'3.25", a mark that now stands eighth in program history.

Athlete of the Week

Following his debut performance for the Salukis, Clint Meyer was named the Missouri Valley Conference Men's Field Athlete of the Week. At the time of the award, Meyer's mark of 18.98 meters was not only first in the Valley, but fifth in the NCAA. Prior to transferring to SIU, Meyer spent the past three years at California State University Northridge where he captured two outdoor Big West titles in the shot put and broke numerous school records in both indoor and outdoor competition.

Jim Green Invitational: The Field

The Salukis will square up against a field of 19 schools that includes the likes of Belmont, Butler, Cincinnati, Kansas State, Ohio State, Western Kentucky and more. Out of both sides of the field, only the Kentucky women's track and field team boasts a top-25 ranking, coming in at #10 in the USTFCCCA's preseason poll.

We Have History

Since the 2013-14 indoor season, the Salukis have competed at University of Kentucky four times. Last season, the Salukis had a successful outing with four top-five finishes, 10 personal-bests and a top-10 school mark.

Against the Valley

Seven Salukis (five women/two men) currently lead the Missouri Valley Conference in their respective events. Tyjuana Eason is the only Saluki that leads the conference in multiple categories, as the senior owns the top marks in the 60 meters (7.61) and the 200 meters (24.53). In total, 22 Salukis hold top-three marks against the MVC.

Event | Mark | Athlete Name
60 Meters | 7.61 | Tyjuana Eason
200 Meters | 24.53 | Tyjuana Eason
400 Meters | 49.03 | Corey Sherrod
4x400 Relay | 3:57.93 | SIU
High Jump | 2.11m (6'11") | Willie Rodgers
Shot Put | 15.75m (51'8.25") | A'veun Moore-Jones
Weight Throw | 20.66m (67.9.5") | Alexis Roberson

National Rankings

The Salukis have seven athletes ranked nationally in the top-25 of their respective events, with four of the seven holding top-10 marks. Southern's seven athletes ranked in the top-25 are currently the most in the MVC, with Illinois State (6), Indiana State (5), Loyola (5) and Northern Iowa (5) all closely trailing.

Event (Mark) | Athlete Name | National Rank
200 Meters (21.70) | Corey Sherrod | 17^th
200 Meters (24.53) | Tyjuana Eason | 8^th
400 Meters (56.67) | Madison Meyer | 25^th
High Jump (2.11m / 6'11") | Willie Rodgers | 12^th
Shot Put (18.98m / 62'3.25") | Clint Meyer | 6^th
Shot Put (15.75m / 51' 8.25") | A'veun Moore-Jones | 10^th
Weight Throw (20.66m / 67'9.5") | Alexis Roberson | 6^th

Click here to view the final meet schedule.

Click here to view the heat sheets.

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