Shauniece O'Neal Leads Salukis on Day One of MVC Championships
02/26/2021 | 8:20:00 | Track and Field
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Southern Illinois University Saluki track and field program claimed one individual title and saw one individual advance to an event final on day one of the 2021 Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships, in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Following today's events, the Saluki women are in first place with 40 team points. Northern Iowa (24 points) and Illinois State (18 points) round out the top-three. On the men's side, SIU sits in eighth with eight team points. Northern Iowa holds the lead (39 points), while Indiana State (27 points) and Drake (24 points) trail behind.
Junior thrower Shauniece O'Neal launched a lifetime-best throw of 22.72m (74'-06.5") on her first attempt en route to winning her first MVC Indoor individual title. Her mark of 22.72m stands as the third-farthest in program history, moving her one quarter inch (0.25") ahead of Olympian and Saluki hall of famer Gwen Berry.
O'Neal led a SIU 1-2-3 finish in the weight throw, as Elisia Lancaster took home silver after throwing a mark of 19.17m (62'-10.75"). Freshman Kaitlyn Burson notched a career-best mark of 19.00m (62'-04"), giving the Willard, Mo., native a new personal-best and a bronze medal to show for it. Emily Kern came in fifth with a throw of 18.60m (61'-00.25"), while BriYanna Robinson claimed sixth after throwing for 18.48m (60'-07.75). In total, the Saluki throwers earned Southern Illinois 31 team points.
On the track, Iaunia Pointer continued her impressive freshman year by finishing second in the 200 meter dash preliminaries with a time of 24.89, advancing her to Sunday's finale. Fellow freshman Miracle Berry finished the same race in 19th with a time of 26.07, while Olivia Garner came in 21st after clocking in at 26.71.
Kayla Schiera took fourth in the 5000 meter run after finishing with a time of 17:37.07, earning the Salukis five team points along the way. Rachel Anderson, competing in her first indoor 5000 meter run, earned SIU a team point after finishing in eighth with a time of 18:08.16. Freshman Stephanie Anthonies rounded out the Salukis in the race with her 13th place finish at 18:41.57.
Competing in the distance medley relay, Claire Ayers, McKenzie Krich, Sydney Matusik and Josie Brown combined to finish sixth with a time of 12:45.86. Meanwhile, Britney Mosby placed 17th in the long jump with a mark of 4.82m (15'-09.75").
On the men's side of things, freshman Ethan Seniti took fourth in the 5200 meter run with a lifetime-best mark of 15:43.05, earning the Salukis five team points. Reid Parsons earned a team point after finishing eighth in the same event with a time of 15:57.71. Uriah Guthrie rounded out the Salukis in the event with an 11th place finish, clocking in at 16:18.28.
The field events saw Dasani Edward place 11th in the long jump with a mark of 6.79m (22'-03.50"), while Dylan Beaird finished 16th in the weight throw after throwing for 14.07m (46'-02").
In the 200 meter dash preliminaries, Ja'Den Johnson took 12th with a time of 22.77, Corey Sherrod claimed 13th at 22.85 and Kyle Lind placed 16th with a time of 23.19. The distance medley relay team of Noah McIntyre, Omar Rodgers, Dawson Smith and Travis Hart took seventh with a time of 10:38.09.
Salukis in the Top-Five
Women
200 Dash – Prelims
2. Iaunia Pointer, 24.89 (Q)
5000 Meter Run
4. Kayla Schiera, 17:37.07
Weight Throw
1. Shauniece O'Neal, 22.72m (74-06.50")
2. Elisia Lancaster, 19.17m (62'-10.75")
3. Kaitlyn Burson, 19.00m (62'-04")
5. Emily Kern, 18.60m (61'-00.25")
6. BriYanna Robinson, 18.48m (60'-07.75")
Men
5200 Meter Run
4. Ethan Senti, 15:43.05
Day two of the Missouri Valley Conference Championships kicks off with the men's heptathlon at 9:30 a.m. Field events follow at 11 a.m., with track events slated at 12 p.m. The women's pentathlon gets underway at 4:30 p.m., followed by field and track events at 5 p.m.
Click here to view the results from day one.
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
Click HERE to view the Valley's championship central page for more details. Click HERE (PDF) to view the heat sheets.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
For the latest updates on the Salukis, be sure to follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Following today's events, the Saluki women are in first place with 40 team points. Northern Iowa (24 points) and Illinois State (18 points) round out the top-three. On the men's side, SIU sits in eighth with eight team points. Northern Iowa holds the lead (39 points), while Indiana State (27 points) and Drake (24 points) trail behind.
Junior thrower Shauniece O'Neal launched a lifetime-best throw of 22.72m (74'-06.5") on her first attempt en route to winning her first MVC Indoor individual title. Her mark of 22.72m stands as the third-farthest in program history, moving her one quarter inch (0.25") ahead of Olympian and Saluki hall of famer Gwen Berry.
O'Neal led a SIU 1-2-3 finish in the weight throw, as Elisia Lancaster took home silver after throwing a mark of 19.17m (62'-10.75"). Freshman Kaitlyn Burson notched a career-best mark of 19.00m (62'-04"), giving the Willard, Mo., native a new personal-best and a bronze medal to show for it. Emily Kern came in fifth with a throw of 18.60m (61'-00.25"), while BriYanna Robinson claimed sixth after throwing for 18.48m (60'-07.75). In total, the Saluki throwers earned Southern Illinois 31 team points.
On the track, Iaunia Pointer continued her impressive freshman year by finishing second in the 200 meter dash preliminaries with a time of 24.89, advancing her to Sunday's finale. Fellow freshman Miracle Berry finished the same race in 19th with a time of 26.07, while Olivia Garner came in 21st after clocking in at 26.71.
Kayla Schiera took fourth in the 5000 meter run after finishing with a time of 17:37.07, earning the Salukis five team points along the way. Rachel Anderson, competing in her first indoor 5000 meter run, earned SIU a team point after finishing in eighth with a time of 18:08.16. Freshman Stephanie Anthonies rounded out the Salukis in the race with her 13th place finish at 18:41.57.
Competing in the distance medley relay, Claire Ayers, McKenzie Krich, Sydney Matusik and Josie Brown combined to finish sixth with a time of 12:45.86. Meanwhile, Britney Mosby placed 17th in the long jump with a mark of 4.82m (15'-09.75").
On the men's side of things, freshman Ethan Seniti took fourth in the 5200 meter run with a lifetime-best mark of 15:43.05, earning the Salukis five team points. Reid Parsons earned a team point after finishing eighth in the same event with a time of 15:57.71. Uriah Guthrie rounded out the Salukis in the event with an 11th place finish, clocking in at 16:18.28.
The field events saw Dasani Edward place 11th in the long jump with a mark of 6.79m (22'-03.50"), while Dylan Beaird finished 16th in the weight throw after throwing for 14.07m (46'-02").
In the 200 meter dash preliminaries, Ja'Den Johnson took 12th with a time of 22.77, Corey Sherrod claimed 13th at 22.85 and Kyle Lind placed 16th with a time of 23.19. The distance medley relay team of Noah McIntyre, Omar Rodgers, Dawson Smith and Travis Hart took seventh with a time of 10:38.09.
Salukis in the Top-Five
Women
200 Dash – Prelims
2. Iaunia Pointer, 24.89 (Q)
5000 Meter Run
4. Kayla Schiera, 17:37.07
Weight Throw
1. Shauniece O'Neal, 22.72m (74-06.50")
2. Elisia Lancaster, 19.17m (62'-10.75")
3. Kaitlyn Burson, 19.00m (62'-04")
5. Emily Kern, 18.60m (61'-00.25")
6. BriYanna Robinson, 18.48m (60'-07.75")
Men
5200 Meter Run
4. Ethan Senti, 15:43.05
Day two of the Missouri Valley Conference Championships kicks off with the men's heptathlon at 9:30 a.m. Field events follow at 11 a.m., with track events slated at 12 p.m. The women's pentathlon gets underway at 4:30 p.m., followed by field and track events at 5 p.m.
Click here to view the results from day one.
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
Click HERE to view the Valley's championship central page for more details. Click HERE (PDF) to view the heat sheets.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
For the latest updates on the Salukis, be sure to follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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Distance
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Sprints
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Distance
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