Salukis wrap up first outdoor meet at Simmons Invite

Friday, March 25

Murray, KY

TBA

Southern Illinois University

Margaret Simmons Invite

03/26/2022 | 9:23:00 | Track and Field

By: SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Southern Illinois track and field program wrapped up the first meet of its outdoor season with the Margaret Simmons Invite on Saturday in Murray, Ken. The Saluki women placed second in the team standings with a total of 139 points, the men also took home second with 94 points.

In all, Southern Illinois won 5 events over the two-day meet and had a total of 21 find the podium.

"It's good to be outside," said Director of Track and Field Rosalind Joseph! "First meet of the year, and more so than performances we just like to look at how the athletes adjust to the outdoor season."

The action got started on Friday afternoon as Cole Targgart earned the first points for the Salukis as he finished second in the men's discus. His mark of 50.60m (166' 0") was a new personal best for him in the event. Peyton Taylor placed fourth in his first event of the year (47.59m, 156' 1").

The scoring continued into the women's hammer throw. Shauniece O'Neal carried her momentum from indoor season and grabbed silver in the event. Her second place mark of 65.32m (214' 3") ranks 11^th in the NCAA after this weekend's competition. Elisia Lancaster finished one spot behind in third place with a personal best mark of 63.54m (208' 5"). That mark is currently good enough for 17^th in the NCAA. Kaitlyn Burson follow right behind in fourth with 55.40m (181' 9"). Saluki Hall of Famer Deanna Price won the event with a mark of 72.39m (237' 6").

Freshman Jeremiah Hamilton shined in his first outdoor meet. He placed third in the men's 200m dash with a time of 22.03. Dylan Beaird grabbed silver in the men's hammer throw with a distance of 55.24m (181' 2"). Daniel Norris qualified for the finals in his first outdoor hammer event and placed seventh overall (46.89m, 153' 10").

The female throwers took home big points for the Dawgs in the women's discus. A'veun Moore-Jones recorded a new personal best and took home gold with a mark of 49.54m (162' 6"). Matisen Ingle finished second in her first discus event, throwing 48.19m (158' 1"). Shauniece O'Neal completed the podium sweep with her bronze mark of 43.90m (144' 0"). The Salukis occupied five of the top-six spots as Bri'Yanna Robinson (40.76m) and Kayleigh Conlon (40.27m) finished in the fifth and sixth.

Day 2 started with much of the same for the Salukis. Kayla Schiera won the women's 1500m race with a time of 4:37.17. Rachel Anderson grabbed bronze (4:42.17), while Claire Ayers finished at sixth in 4:49.20. Schiera later went on to place second in the women's 800m race with a personal best time of 2:15.46. Iaunia Pointer earned big points as she won the women's 400m event. Her time of 56.64 won heat one and was good enough for first place overall.

The throwers continued to rack up team points the shot put event on Saturday afternoon. The Salukis once again swept the podium with A'veun Moore-Jones taking home her second gold in as many days. Her mark of 16.38m (53' 9") currently ranks her 18th in the NCAA for the outdoor season. Kayleigh Conlon took home silver (14.63m, 48' 0") and Bri'Yanna Robinson grabbed bronze (13.63m, 44' 8.75"). Christine Nosike reached the finals in her first outdoor meet and placed sixth overall (12.42m, 40' 9"). In the men's shot, Cole Tarrgart found the podium once again with a third place finish (16.43m, 53' 11"). Fellow Salukis Daniel Norris (15.40m, 50' 6.35") and Hunter Roseborough (15.16m, 49' 9") placed sixth and seventh respectively.

In the first 100m dash event of the outdoor season for the team, Ja'Den Johnson took home silver with a time of 10.81. Dasani Edward also found the podium, placing third in the men's long jump with a distance of 6.92m (22' 8.5"). To cap off the Margaret Simmons Invite, the Saluki men's 4x400 relay squad consisiting of Omar Rodgers, Darrione Williams, Jeremiah Hamilton, and Corey Sherrod were able to coast to a first place finish with a time of 3:22.48.

The Salukis will return to action April 1-2 when the team heads to Cape Girardeau, Mo., to partake in the Joey Haine Invitational.