Saluki track and field O'Neal set for breakout track year
SIU had several outstanding performances in last weekend's Tennessee Relays in Knoxville.
A preponderance of the stellar finishes came, as usual, in the throwing events. Harrisburg native (and Saluki throws coach) J.C. Lambert had his team locked and loaded again for competition against some great regional talent.
Shauniece O'Neal, a budding talent from nearby Florissant, Mo., provided some of the top highlights, as the sophomore finished in the top three in two field events. O'Neal finished third in the hammer throw. She threw the ball and chain 202 feet, 2 inches. That was the third over-200-foot throw for the second-year Saluki athlete in 2019. Cassandra Rogers of Indiana State won the 2018 MVC Outdoor Hammer last season with a 176-foot, 10-inch throw. Thus, O'Neal has a chance to overtake Rogers in this year's upcoming MVC festivities. Also, O'Neal topped last year's seventh-place conference effort of 150 feet, 2 inches by a bunch.
O'Neal sailed the discus 176 feet, 6 inches at Tennessee. That first-place throw was 10 feet farther than her personal best at SIU. More importantly, the winning throw by an Illinois State athlete at the 2018 MVC Outdoors was but 171 feet, 5 inches. It was the fourth longest women's discus toss in SIU history and 17th best so far in the NCAA West Regionals.
SIU's men's star thrower was not idle either. Adam Kessler, who leads the MVC in the shot put with a toss of over 64 feet, sailed one 63 feet, 2.75 inches for a second-place finish among college participants at Tennessee. Yet look for Kessler to really pick up his throwing as the MVC 2019 meet approaches May 25 in Terre Haute, Ind. Kessler threw 66 feet, 10.75 inches to take the 2018 title. So Kessler has a bit to go before he is at his throwing peak.
Non-thrower Theo Hassim picked up a third in the meet in the steeplechase. His 9:46.54 puts him in MVC championship range.
SIU's Theo Phipps only finished sixth in the 110-meter high hurdles. Yet his 14.14-second time moved him to 10th place in the highs, topping former Saluki star Bob Green's 1963 handheld time in that event.
Tomorrow, the Dawgs are off to Lexington for the Wildcats' Invitational. Look for another day of personal bests - especially from SIU's prolific throw team.