March 10, 2010

www.SIUSalukis.com

NEW ORLEANS, La. - The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced on Tuesday afternoon 72 athletes, assistant coaches and head coaches that received regional awards for their efforts during the 2010 indoor track & field season in NCAA's Division I as voted by the nation's coaches.

Southern Illinois' Jeneva McCall was named the Midwest Region Field Athlete of the Year and throws coach John Smith was named the Midwest Region Women's Field Coach of the Year.

McCall achieved automatic qualifying marks for the NCAA Indoor Championships in both the shot put and the weight throw. Her season-best marks of 55-11.75 (17.06m) in the shot put and 70-00.25 (21.34m) in the weight throw currently rank her sixth and third in those events, respectively. A sophomore from Dolton, Ill., McCall won conference titles in both events at the 2010 MVC Championships.

Smith's throwers helped propel the Salukis to a second-place team finish at the MVC Indoor Championships, thanks to 42 points scored in the weight throw and shot put. In their coach's fifth year, Smith's throwers have earned one automatic and three provisional marks in the weight throw as well as one automatic and one provisional mark in the shot put.

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