CARBONDALE, Ill. – SIUE track and field opened its season with a strong showing at the Saluki Fast Start, highlighted by three top three performances across jumps, hurdles and throws.
 
Zaria Searcy led the way for the Cougars in the women's high jump, placing third with a mark of 1.65m (5-5). Her clearance is tied for the fifth-best performance in program indoor history.
 
Mia Jackson added a runner-up finish in the women's 60-meter hurdles, clocking 8.72 in the finals.
 
In throws, Mariyah Menicucci had a pair of third place finishes in women's weight throw at 15.07 (49-5.5) and shot put at 12.28 (40-3.5).
 
THROWS
Allison Sanders also competed in the women's weight throw placing fourth at 14.83m (48-8). Abigail Irvin placed 16^th in the weight throw at 11.60m (38-.75).
 
Two freshmen made their debut, including Alison Taylor, placing ninth at 12.82m (42-.75) and Alexis Feldhake in 20^th at 10.32m (33-10.25).
 
Taylor also competed in the women's shot put placing 13^th at 9.60m (31-6), and Feldhake placed 17^th at 8.72m (28-7.5).
 
JUMPS
For the women's long jump Nyah Williams placed 10^th overall at 4.93m (16-2.25). Williams also competed in the women's triple jump placing fourth at 10,99m (36-.75).
 
Also competing in the women's long jump was freshman Olivia Smith, she placed 11^th at 4.92m (16-1.75).
 
Drew Tucker placed fourth in the men's high jump at 1.90m (6-2.75) and was followed by Caden Belcher in 10^th at 1.75m (5-8.75).
 
SPRINTS & HRUDLES
In the women's 60-meter hurdles semifinals, Jada Fryer placed 10^th with a time of 9.56, followed by Olivia Smith in 15^th at 9.85.
 
Two Cougars advanced to the men's 60-meter hurdles final, where Simon McClaine finished fifth at 8.51 and Darius Alberty placed sixth in 8.68.
 
For the women's 60-meter semifinals was led by  Kaylee Allen with an 11^th place finish with a time of 7.82. She was followed by Calie Field (21^st / 7.96), Lena Jackson (25^th / 8.02), Olivia Hansen (27^th / 8.04), Jada Fryer (28^th / 8.08) and Darrelle Rice (31^st / 8.13).
 
Konnor Bouman ran the men's 60m semis placing 21^st at 7.32.
 
Mia Jackson led the women's 200m placed fourth with a time of 26.02. Following her was Calie Field in seventh (26.7) and Olivia Hansen (27.18).
 
The men's 200m was led by Konrad Sacha who placed sixth with a time of 22.76. He was followed by Plamedi in 13^th (23.57) and Darius Alberty in 15^th (23.76).
 
DISTANCE & MID-DISTANCE
Konrad Sacha placed sixth in the 400m with a time of 50.78. He was followed by Norman Mukwada in eighth at 51.90 and Plamedi Nseka in ninth at 52.25. Simon McClaine also competed, placed 11^th at 52.75.
 
Kaylee Sprague placed fifth overall in the women's 800m, crossing the finish line in 2:29.59.
 
PENTATHLON
Senior Harper Smith competed in her first pentathlon of the season. For the 60m hurdles she finished in 16^th with a time of 11.10. The women's high jump she finished in fourth with a mark of 1.59m (5-2.5). She placed in 13^th for the shot put at 8.84m (29-0) and the long jump at 4.75 (15-7). She rounded the event off placed 12^th in the 800m with a time of 3:16.49.