Results
ALLENDALE, Mich. – After Elizabeth Hampl and Brittany Thomas set school records in day one, day two saw several first place finishes and personal bests for the Cougars.
"We had a productive weekend," said Head Coach Eileen McAllister. "The athletes took advantage of the competition and facility. They brought intensity and grit on day two, which is crucial to success at the OVC Championships."
To start the day off, the Cougars saw career races for all three women in the 3,000 meter race, including yet another personal best from Erin Kennedy. Her race of 10 minutes, 37.58 seconds bettered her previous mark by five seconds and placed her 19th. Haley Miller and Jess Clarke followed with times of 10:55.75 and 11:06.35, respectively.
Luke Padesky had another standout day for SIUE after his No. 4 all-time performace in the 5,000 meter race in day one. He set a personal best in the 3,000 meter race by 14 seconds with a time of 8:36.17 and finishing in fourth. Keith Meyer finished just behind him in fifth with a time of 8:37.45. Nick Moore matched his personal best in the same race with a time of 8:45.28, good enough for 15th.
Clint Kliem and Ben Scamihorn continue the success for the distance events, both setting personal bests in the mile. Kliem came in fifth with a time of 4:18.16. Scamihorn came in 12th with a time of 4:23.02.
Jessy Glaub set his personal best in the 800 meter race with a time of 1:58.32.
Darius Smith won the 60 meter dash with a time of 6.89, his first win for the season in this event.
Julian Harvey won the high jump event with a jump of 6 feet, 8.75 inches, coming just shy of a personal best 7-0.
Alec Dutton had a big day for the Cougars, setting personal bests in the shot put. His mark of 50-4.5 placed him fifth.
Greg Block finished in fourth for the Cougars in the weight throw with a mark of 60-10.
On the women's side, Thomas and LaDonna Caston continue to dominate their events. Thomas won the 60 meter race in 7.69, with Caston finishing second and just behind Thomas with a time of 7.70.
Caston also won her fourth 60-meter hurdles race of the year with a time of 8.56. Her time of 8.40 in day one sits 39th nationally.
Thomas continued to impress she ran the 200 meter race in 24.98, winning her heat and finishing in third place overall. LaCresha Linton continues to improve, running the race in a personal best 26.04, placing her 17th.
The throwers on the women's side came up with personal bests for the Cougars in the weight throw. Elizabeth Hampl finished the event in third place with a throw of 56-11.5. Lizzie Virgl threw a mark of 50-2.5, six feet beyond her previous best mark. Megan Lauzon improved her mark by two feet, finishing with a throw of 52-0.
Deborrah Blackburn won the high jump for the second time this season. She finished with a jump of 5-5.
"By and large, they competed well and clarified their strategy going into the OVC Championships," said McAllister.
The Cougars compete in the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championships Feb. 27-28.
