Southern Illinois University
Spring Classic
Women first, men second at Gill Spring Track and Field Classic
03/29/2008 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
March 29, 2008
By Shalae Patrick
www.siusalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois track and field teams combined for 12 meet titles and 41 top-three finishes as the women won the meet and the men finished second at the Gill Spring Classic at Lew Hartzog track Friday and Saturday.
The Saluki women picked up eight meet titles led by five-time All-American and two-time national champion Brittany Riley who won both the hammer and shot put, finishing second in the discus. The women won by over 100 points, finishing the meet with 274 total. Illinois State came in second with 173.5 points followed by Wisconsin-Milwaukee (108.5), SIU-Edwardsville (95) and Bradley (33).
The men were led by SIU thrower Brenton Siemons, also picking up two meet titles in the hammer and shot put, regionally qualifying in both events. Illinois won the meet with 205 points, followed by the Salukis with 188.5. Illinois State (114.5), SIUE (90), Wisconsin-Milwaukee (89) and Evansville (3) rounded out the field.
Along with Siemons and Riley, Sasha Leeth was the other Saluki to qualify for the Mideast Regional meet in the hammer. Riley and Leeth finished one, two in the event Friday. Riley went on to throw 43-10.5 in the shot for the win Saturday, also tossing the discus 144-05 for second.
In the running events for the women, Nefeteri Williams won the 3,000-meter steeplechase in a time of 11:07.10. A'Seret Dokubo finished second in 11:26.45.
The relay of Bianca Stuart, Kandise Thompson, Meredith Hayes and Andrea Norris teamed up to win the 4x100-meter relay in 47.71. Thompson went on to anchor the winning 4x400-meter relay with Kendra Deck, Gabbi Meniefield and Tredene Davis in 3:51.18 and also finished second in the 400 dash in 56.94.
Norris and Davis both went on to win individual titles. Norris in the 100 dash with a time of 12.14 and Davis the 400 hurdles in 1:04.29. The Salukis swept the top three places in the 400 hurdles, along with Davis, Deck (1:04.38) and Connie Hicks (1:08.16) finished second and third. The 24 points the trio racked up in the event put the team race out of reach for the remainder of the day.
Terri Counts picked up the final women's title in the 100 hurdles in a career-best 14.31. Hayes finished second in 14.33. Picking up a second-place finish in the javelin and a third-place finish in the 1500 was Toni Whitfield. The sophomore threw a career-best 124-05 in the javelin and ran 4:45.42 in the 1500.
After finishing second and third in the long jump Friday, the duo of Mikeya Nicholson and Judeka Adams finished two, three again in the triple jump Saturday. Nicholson reached 38-00, while Adams jumped 37-07.75.
In the pole vault, Miracle Thompson set a new SIU mark, clearing 11-01.75 for a second-place finish. Jacque Menke finished third at 10-08.
On the men's side, along with Siemons, the Salukis picked up top finishes in the long jump and the 4x100-meter relay. Trenton McKinney won the long jump on Friday, along with Siemons victory in the hammer.
Saturday, Siemons threw 56-01.75 in the shot put for the win. Thomas Smith, who picked up a third-place finish in the hammer, finished second in the javelin with a career-best 176-04. Trevor Poore finished third with a personal best heave of 167-11. Also in the throws, Jake Dieters finished third in the discus with a final mark of 160-10, Smith finished fifth at 151-03.
In the pole vault, Blake Brachear finished tied for second clearing 15-01.
On the track, the 4x100 team of Brandon Deloney, Sammy Biggs, Antoine Jennings and Stevie Warren won the event in 41.27. Deloney went on to finish second in the 200 (21.92) and third in the 100 (10.93). Warren finished just ahead of Deloney in the 100 with a 10.80 in the 100 and finished fourth in the 200 (22.07) just behind him.
Biggs went on to finish fourth in the 400 in 48.22 and anchored the 4x400-meter relay to a third-place finish. He teamed with Willie Knox, Warren and Jennings and finished in a time of 3:18.03. Knox also picked up a third-place finish in the 400 hurdles in 55.87.
In the distance events, Kyle Kirchner picked up the top finish for the men running 3:58.70 in the 1500 for second place.
The Salukis return to action April 5 when they travel to Cape Girardeau, Mo. for the Gatorade Classic hosted by SEMO.
Players Mentioned
