Jan. 13, 2012

Day One Results

LINCOLN, Neb. - The SIUE track and field teams started the 2012 portion of the indoor season earning eight top-ten finishes for the women and two for the men at the Holiday Inn Invitational hosted by the University of Nebraska.

"Today went very well for the entire group that competed," said SIUE Head Coach Kareem Jackson. "To be in an atmosphere like this, is exactly why we traveled all the way here."

Freshman Jasmine Johnson led the way for the Cougars with a second-place finish in the high jump clearing 5 feet, 5 inches.

Dede Lofton earned a third-place finish in the 800 meters with a time of 2 minutes, 16.33 seconds. Ioana Citireag (2:20.63) and Ellen Goins (2:33.01) joined Lofton in the top ten placing fifth and ninth, respectively.

Aftan Noon finished sixth overall in the mile crossing the finish line in a time of 5:18.47. Megan Petty, the lone SIUE runner in the 1000 meters, placed seventh in a time of 3:12.94.

In the throws, Colleen McDonough picked up a third-place finish in the weight throw tossing 51-10.5. Kristin Wykoff also placed in the top ten finishing ninth with a mark of 47-8.

On the men's side, La'Derrick Ward, fresh off his Ohio Valley Conference Field Athlete of the Week award, placed second in the long jump with a leap of 23-6.75.

Marc Presley finished ninth in the 800 meters with a time of 2:01.09 to round out the day for the Cougars.

"I was pleased to see the team camaraderie," added Jackson. "This is a close group and you could see how they all pulled for one another."

The Cougars will return to Devaney Center Indoor Track Saturday morning for the final day of competition.

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