Photo by: Steve Woltmann Photo
O'Neal and Lancaster Earn Second Team All-American Honors
03/11/2022 | 9:43:00 | Track and Field
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Two Salukis competed in the weight throw event at the 2022 NCAA Indoor Championships on Friday night. Shauniece O'Neal and Elisia Lancaster represented Southern Illinois and were both able to finish inside the top-10 at the National meet.
"This was a pretty good season for the Salukis in the women's weight," said Throws Coach J.C. Lambert. " They handled themselves well and represent the school and the program at the level that is expected when it comes to Saluki Track and field."
In a field of 16, Shauniece O'Neal was the fourth athlete to go in the event. She was able to mark on her first toss with a distance of 21.54m (70' 8"). Fellow Saluki, Elisia Lancaster was 13th in the start list and was also able to register a legal mark at 20.88m (68' 6").
Lancaster, in her first NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, was able to extend her mark in the second round with 21.89m (71' 10") toss. Her round three mark fell just shy of her previous at 21.29m (69' 10.25"). After the first three rounds, Lancaster found herself sitting in tenth place, just narrowly missing the cutoff for the top-9 scores that advanced to the finals.
Shauniece O'Neal was able to improve her mark in the third round with a toss of 22.23m (72' 11.25"). That mark was able to secure her the eighth spot in the field, good enough to move into the finals. This was the second consecutive year that O'Neal advanced to the weight throw finals.
"Today was a very tough meet, historically it was the deepest Nationals meet by far for the women's weight throw", said Lambert.
In the finals, O'Neal came out of the gates quickly with an improved mark of 22.54m (73' 11.5"). After a foul on her fifth attempt, her sixth and final toss of the finals registered in at 21.79m (71' 6"). After the final round of competition, O'Neal finished in 9th place for the Salukis. Ole Miss Senoir Shey Taiwo ultimately took home gold in the event with a final toss of 25.55m (83' 10").
Both Shauniece O'Neal and Elisia Lancaster were awarded Second-Team All-American honors for their performances. This was Lancaster's first All-American award. Shauniece was able to add the Second-Team honor to her storied career; last year she was awarded First-Team honors for her 7th place finish in the 2021 weight throw competition.
"I know the ladies wanted more and to fight to finish higher, but they competed well and held their own still," said Lambert. "Having two ladies in the top 10 in the nation in 1 event is impressive and a reflection of their hard work, sacrifice, and dedication all summer, all fall, through winter break, and the indoor season"
A'veun Moore-Jones will look to join O'Neal and Lancaster in the All-American ranks when she takes to the ring at 7:00 p.m. tomorrow night for the women's shot put finals.
Click here to view the final results from the women's weight throw.
"This was a pretty good season for the Salukis in the women's weight," said Throws Coach J.C. Lambert. " They handled themselves well and represent the school and the program at the level that is expected when it comes to Saluki Track and field."
In a field of 16, Shauniece O'Neal was the fourth athlete to go in the event. She was able to mark on her first toss with a distance of 21.54m (70' 8"). Fellow Saluki, Elisia Lancaster was 13th in the start list and was also able to register a legal mark at 20.88m (68' 6").
Lancaster, in her first NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, was able to extend her mark in the second round with 21.89m (71' 10") toss. Her round three mark fell just shy of her previous at 21.29m (69' 10.25"). After the first three rounds, Lancaster found herself sitting in tenth place, just narrowly missing the cutoff for the top-9 scores that advanced to the finals.
Shauniece O'Neal was able to improve her mark in the third round with a toss of 22.23m (72' 11.25"). That mark was able to secure her the eighth spot in the field, good enough to move into the finals. This was the second consecutive year that O'Neal advanced to the weight throw finals.
"Today was a very tough meet, historically it was the deepest Nationals meet by far for the women's weight throw", said Lambert.
In the finals, O'Neal came out of the gates quickly with an improved mark of 22.54m (73' 11.5"). After a foul on her fifth attempt, her sixth and final toss of the finals registered in at 21.79m (71' 6"). After the final round of competition, O'Neal finished in 9th place for the Salukis. Ole Miss Senoir Shey Taiwo ultimately took home gold in the event with a final toss of 25.55m (83' 10").
Both Shauniece O'Neal and Elisia Lancaster were awarded Second-Team All-American honors for their performances. This was Lancaster's first All-American award. Shauniece was able to add the Second-Team honor to her storied career; last year she was awarded First-Team honors for her 7th place finish in the 2021 weight throw competition.
"I know the ladies wanted more and to fight to finish higher, but they competed well and held their own still," said Lambert. "Having two ladies in the top 10 in the nation in 1 event is impressive and a reflection of their hard work, sacrifice, and dedication all summer, all fall, through winter break, and the indoor season"
A'veun Moore-Jones will look to join O'Neal and Lancaster in the All-American ranks when she takes to the ring at 7:00 p.m. tomorrow night for the women's shot put finals.
Click here to view the final results from the women's weight throw.
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