Saluki Men and Women take third at Illini Invitational

Friday, April 22

Urbana-Champaign, IL

TBA

Southern Illinois University

Illini Invitational

04/24/2022 | 3:27:00 | Track and Field

By: SIUSalukis.com

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Salukis wrapped up the Illini Invitational on Saturday with 3^rd place finishes by both the men's and the women's teams. The Saluki men finished with 97 total points, trailing only host school Illinois and MVC opponent Illinois State. The women totaled 98.5 points to finish behind Illinois and Illinois State as well.

The competition began on Friday afternoon with the women's hammer throw. The Salukis were able to sweep the podium and take four of the top-six spots in the event. Shauniece O'Neal took the top spot with a mark of 67.04m (219' 11"). That toss was a new personal best for O'Neal and moved her into fifth place all-time at SIU in the hammer throw. She also occupies the 11^thspot in the NCAA rankings for the outdoor season. Elisia Lancaster (65.38m | 214' 6") and Emily Kern (62.31m | 204' 5"| New PR) rounded out the podium for the Dawgs. Kaitlyn Burson recorded a new personal best to finish fourth (59.42m | 194' 11"), while Bri'Yanna Robinson finished two spots behind in sixth (54.52m | 178' 10").

Dylan Beaird took home bronze in the men's hammer with a 56.84m mark (186' 5"). Daniel Norris' new personal best throw of 54.49m (178' 9") earned him a sixth place finish. Darrione Williams continued his strong outdoor season with a third place finish in the men's long jump. His third jump of 7.42m (24' 4.25") propelled him into the finals and ultimately was good enough for the podium finish.

The Salukis excelled in the running events on a windy Friday evening in Champaign. Freshman Jeremiah Hamilton won the men's 200 Meter dash with a wind-aided time of 20.98. That is his first 200 Meter win of the outdoor season. Omar Rodgers placed third in the 400 Meter hurdles with a 51.90 time.

The Salukis ended the night with two individual titles in the 5000 Meter run. Kayla Schiera won the women's event with ease, and set a new SIU record in the process by running a new personal best time of 16:38.83. She beat the previous record (16:44.00) by nearly six seconds, which was set in 1981 by Lindy Nelson. That was the fourth SIU record that Schiera has broken this indoor/outdoor season. Moments later, Dawson Smith brought home gold in the men's race with a personal best time of 14:21.70.

The field events once again kicked off the action on day two. The Saluki women completed their second sweep of the weekend in the discus throw. Bri'Yanna Robinson captured gold with her sixth and final throw of the event. Her mark of 49.96m (163' 11") was a new personal best. Teammates Matisen Ingle (48.06m | 157' 8") and A'veun Moore-Jones (46.36m | 152' 1") placed second and third.

Omar Rodgers found the podium for the second time in as many days in the 110 Meter Hurdles. His time of 13.91 awarded him second place. Corey Sherrod also tacked on a second place finish in the men's 400 Meter dash. His 48.20 was a season best time for him the 400 Meter event.

Rachel Anderson recorded a new personal best time in the women's 3000 Meter Steeplechase with a finish of 11:05.23. She finished in second place and finds herself 9^th all-time at SIU for the steeplechase event.

A'veun Moore-Jones took home her third Shot Put win of the season later in the afternoon. Her 15.17m (49' 9.25") mark narrowly edged out Illinois State's Myejoi Williams and SIU teammate Kayleigh Conlon, who both registered 15.11m (49' 7").

The Salukis will hit the road again to travel to Louisville, Ken. to compete in the Clark Wood Invitational on April 29-30. The MVC Outdoor Championships will take place May 13-15 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Final Results can be found HERE.

Event Winners

Kayla Schiera | 5000 Meter Run| 16:38.83
Dawson Smith | 5000 Meter Run | 14:21.70
Jeremiah Hamilton | 200 Meters | 20.98
Bri'Yanna Robinson | Discus | 49.96m
Shauniece O'Neal | Hammer Throw | 67.04m
A'veun Moore-Jones | Shot Put | 15.17m

Other Top-10 Performances

Ja'Den Johnson | 100 Meters (5^th) | 10.47
Omar Rodgers | 110 Meter Hurdles (2^nd) | 13.91
Corey Sherrod | 200 Meters (7^th) | 21.51
Darrione Williams | 200 Meters (9^th) | 21.60
Ja'Den Johnson | 200 Meters (10^th) | 21.66
Corey Sherrod | 400 Meters (2^nd) | 48.20
Omar Rodgers | 400 Meter Hurdles (3^rd) | 51.90
Josh Delgado | 1500 Meters (9^th) | 3:56.13
Rachel Anderson | 3000 Meter Steeple (2^nd) | 11:05.23
Peyton Taylor | Discus (4^th) | 49.91m
Cole Targgart | Discus (9^th) | 46.62m
Matisen Ingle | Discus (2^nd) | 48.06m
A'veun Moore-Jones | Discus (3^rd) | 46.36m
Christine Nosike | Discus (7^th) | 43.87m
Elisia Lancaster | Hammer (2^nd) | 65.38m
Emily Kern | Hammer (3^rd) | 62.31m
Kaitlyn Burson | Hammer (4^th) | 59.42m
Bri'Yanna Robinson | Hammer (6^th) | 54.52m
Dylan Beaird | Hammer (3^rd) | 56.84m
Daniel Norris | Hammer (6^th) | 54.49m
Dawson Plab | High Jump (5^th) | 1.95m
Trevor Thompson | High Jump (6^th) | 1.95m
McKenzie Krich | High Jump (6^th) | 1.55m
Darrione Williams | Long Jump (3^rd) | 7.42m
Dasani Edward | Long Jump (6^th) | 7.12m
Caleb Massiah | Long Jump (9^th) | 7.04m
Sydney Mitchell | Long Jump (8^th) | 5.36m
Kayleigh Conlon | Shot Put (2^nd) | 15.11m
Bri'Yanna Robinson | Shot Put (7^th) | 13.54m
Cole Targgart | Shot Put (5^th) | 17.30m
Dasani Edward | Triple Jump (5^th) | 14.24m
Men's 4x100 Relay (Sherrod, Donatelli, Hamilton, Johnson) | 41.44 (4^th)
Men's 4x400 Relay (Sherrod, Williams, Hamilton, Rodgers) | 3:15.75 (3^rd)