Friday, May 14
Carbondale, ILL.
Southern Illinois University
vs
MVC Outdoor Championships
Salukis Set to Compete at MVC Outdoor Championship
05/13/2021 | 6:00:00 | Track and Field
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Wrapping up its first outdoor season in two years, the Southern Illinois University track and field program has it's sights set on the Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships, set to take place in Carbondale on May 14-16 at the Lew Hartzog Track and Field Complex.
Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Rosalind Joseph – Opening Statement
"I can't wait for the gun to go off. Being able to get to the point of hosting a championship has been great. Hosting at home, while hectic, is a great way to cap off an unusual season."
On her overall thoughts heading into the weekend:
"The men have added maturity in a lot of different events since the indoor season concluded. On the women's side, they will look to continue our strengths from the indoor season to the outdoor championship."
On what is needed for a successful run in the MVC Championship:
"We have the personnel to do it all. We're just excited and prepared. As long as everyone executes and puts everything they have out on the line, we'll make a run for the top spot."
Follow Along
Spectators are not allowed to attend the championships but will be able to catch exclusive coverage of the three-day meet on ESPN3 ($) with Brad Wells, Mike Mahon and Kelly Burke providing commentary and insight. Links to live results and ESPN3 broadcasts can be found here on the Saluki track and field schedule page. Live updates will also be provided via Twitter on the SIU Saluki track and field account (@SIU_TrackXC).
Broadcast Schedule
Friday, May 14: 5:50-8:30 p.m. CT
Saturday, May 15: 4:45-7:15 p.m. CT
Sunday, May 16: 12:50-4:30 p.m. CT
Bring the Hardware Home
The Salukis are seeking to end a couple of title droughts this weekend as the men will look to win their first conference title since the 2010 season while the women are hoping to do the same for the first time since 2015.
MVC Pre-Championship Poll
The 2021 MVC Outdoor Pre-Championship poll was released on May 7 and saw the Saluki women total 88 points en route to being picked to finish second at the conference meet. On the track, Savannah Long holds top-five times in the MVC for both the 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles. Teammate Kayla Schiera currently holds the second fastest 3000m steeplechase time in the Valley, which is nationally ranked, and Iaunia Pointer currently sits atop the Saluki leaderboard in the 100m, 200m and 400m events.
The Southern Illinois men's team was picked to finish fifth and will look to Willie Johnson and Omar Rodgers on the track. Johnson currently holds the fastest 400m dash time and Rodgers currently holds the second fastest 400m hurdles time in the Valley this season; both of which are nationally ranked. Teammate Ricky Hurley continues to dominate his events, as the senior thrower recently broke the MVC all-time record in the hammer (55.46m, 181'11"), ranks first in the Valley for the discus and is nationally ranked in both events.
Returning Outdoor All-Conference
The Salukis have eight student-athletes set to compete who were MVC All-Conference selections at the last conference meet in 2019:
Men
Theo Phipps
Willie Rodgers
Ricky Hurley
Women
Savannah Long
Kayla Schiera
Erin Diemer
Madison Meyer
A'veun Moore-Jones
Chasing Regionals
The Salukis have seven student-athletes who are ranked within the top-30 of their respective events in the NCAA west region and are vying for a chance to compete at the NCAA West Regionals on May 27-29. A strong showing this weekend could advance them to the regional meet and give them a chance to move on to the national meet, where they could become the first Saluki since 2016 (DeAnna Price, Hammer) to be crowned a national champion.
Men
Ranking | Name | Event | Mark
11 | Ricky Hurley | Hammer | 68.33m (224-02)
14 | Willie Rodgers | High Jump | 2.16m (7-01)
29 | Ricky Hurley | Discus | 55.46m (181-11)
Women
Ranking | Name | Event | Mark
15 | Shauniece O'Neal | Hammer | 64.36m (211-02)
17 | A'veun Moore-Jones | Shot Put | 16.56m (54-04)
19 | Elisia Lancaster | Hammer | 63.38m (207-11)
26 | Erin Diemer | Pole Vault | 4.11m (13-05.75)
Salukis Ranked Against the MVC
Six Salukis currently hold the top mark in an individual event in the Missouri Valley Conference heading into this weekend's championship:
Men
Willie Johnson – 400M
Willie Rodgers – High Jump, Triple Jump
Ricky Hurley – Discus, Hammer
Women
Erin Diemer – Pole Vault
A'veun Moore-Jones – Shot Put
Shauniece O'Neal – Hammer Throw
USTFCCCA Event Squad Rankings (Top-30 Ranking)
The Saluki men and women programs each are represented in the top-30 of the latest USTFCCCA event squad rankings:
Men
13th | High Jump
18th | Discus
Women
5th | Hammer
11th | Shot Put
29 | Discus
USTFCCCA Midwest Region Rankings
16th | Women
20th | Men
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
For the latest updates on the Salukis, be sure to follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Rosalind Joseph – Opening Statement
"I can't wait for the gun to go off. Being able to get to the point of hosting a championship has been great. Hosting at home, while hectic, is a great way to cap off an unusual season."
On her overall thoughts heading into the weekend:
"The men have added maturity in a lot of different events since the indoor season concluded. On the women's side, they will look to continue our strengths from the indoor season to the outdoor championship."
On what is needed for a successful run in the MVC Championship:
"We have the personnel to do it all. We're just excited and prepared. As long as everyone executes and puts everything they have out on the line, we'll make a run for the top spot."
Follow Along
Spectators are not allowed to attend the championships but will be able to catch exclusive coverage of the three-day meet on ESPN3 ($) with Brad Wells, Mike Mahon and Kelly Burke providing commentary and insight. Links to live results and ESPN3 broadcasts can be found here on the Saluki track and field schedule page. Live updates will also be provided via Twitter on the SIU Saluki track and field account (@SIU_TrackXC).
Broadcast Schedule
Friday, May 14: 5:50-8:30 p.m. CT
Saturday, May 15: 4:45-7:15 p.m. CT
Sunday, May 16: 12:50-4:30 p.m. CT
Bring the Hardware Home
The Salukis are seeking to end a couple of title droughts this weekend as the men will look to win their first conference title since the 2010 season while the women are hoping to do the same for the first time since 2015.
MVC Pre-Championship Poll
The 2021 MVC Outdoor Pre-Championship poll was released on May 7 and saw the Saluki women total 88 points en route to being picked to finish second at the conference meet. On the track, Savannah Long holds top-five times in the MVC for both the 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles. Teammate Kayla Schiera currently holds the second fastest 3000m steeplechase time in the Valley, which is nationally ranked, and Iaunia Pointer currently sits atop the Saluki leaderboard in the 100m, 200m and 400m events.
The Southern Illinois men's team was picked to finish fifth and will look to Willie Johnson and Omar Rodgers on the track. Johnson currently holds the fastest 400m dash time and Rodgers currently holds the second fastest 400m hurdles time in the Valley this season; both of which are nationally ranked. Teammate Ricky Hurley continues to dominate his events, as the senior thrower recently broke the MVC all-time record in the hammer (55.46m, 181'11"), ranks first in the Valley for the discus and is nationally ranked in both events.
Returning Outdoor All-Conference
The Salukis have eight student-athletes set to compete who were MVC All-Conference selections at the last conference meet in 2019:
Men
Theo Phipps
Willie Rodgers
Ricky Hurley
Women
Savannah Long
Kayla Schiera
Erin Diemer
Madison Meyer
A'veun Moore-Jones
Chasing Regionals
The Salukis have seven student-athletes who are ranked within the top-30 of their respective events in the NCAA west region and are vying for a chance to compete at the NCAA West Regionals on May 27-29. A strong showing this weekend could advance them to the regional meet and give them a chance to move on to the national meet, where they could become the first Saluki since 2016 (DeAnna Price, Hammer) to be crowned a national champion.
Men
Ranking | Name | Event | Mark
11 | Ricky Hurley | Hammer | 68.33m (224-02)
14 | Willie Rodgers | High Jump | 2.16m (7-01)
29 | Ricky Hurley | Discus | 55.46m (181-11)
Women
Ranking | Name | Event | Mark
15 | Shauniece O'Neal | Hammer | 64.36m (211-02)
17 | A'veun Moore-Jones | Shot Put | 16.56m (54-04)
19 | Elisia Lancaster | Hammer | 63.38m (207-11)
26 | Erin Diemer | Pole Vault | 4.11m (13-05.75)
Salukis Ranked Against the MVC
Six Salukis currently hold the top mark in an individual event in the Missouri Valley Conference heading into this weekend's championship:
Men
Willie Johnson – 400M
Willie Rodgers – High Jump, Triple Jump
Ricky Hurley – Discus, Hammer
Women
Erin Diemer – Pole Vault
A'veun Moore-Jones – Shot Put
Shauniece O'Neal – Hammer Throw
USTFCCCA Event Squad Rankings (Top-30 Ranking)
The Saluki men and women programs each are represented in the top-30 of the latest USTFCCCA event squad rankings:
Men
13th | High Jump
18th | Discus
Women
5th | Hammer
11th | Shot Put
29 | Discus
USTFCCCA Midwest Region Rankings
16th | Women
20th | Men
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
For the latest updates on the Salukis, be sure to follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Multis
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Hurdles/Jumps
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Distance
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