Nice job Saluki.
Just got home from Lexington a few minutes ago; it was great trip in a number of ways.
We went down to UK to pick-up our daughter for a long weekend for her (great) and to watch some of the UK Invite and cheer on the Salukis T&F teams (great); also made a pit stop at BP station/liquor store and scored a bottle of Blanton's Bourbon (great).
We got to the track meet just in time to see the ladies, O'Neal and Roberson, score 1st & 2nd respectively, in the Hammer, and Meyer and Taty take 3rd & 10th respectively, in the women's javelin competition. Three men competed in the Hammer with two advancing to the final round and taking 1st and 2nd in that event - congrats to Deyer (1st) and Hurley (2nd)!
The WX was nasty cold & wet - we left for lunch and the daughter took us to Lex' best version of Harbaugh's - Josie's. Great omelets, fantastic pork tenderloin sandwich and excellent sausage & gravy. Unfortunately after that I was unable to convince the AirDawg lady folk to go back and watch some more of the track meet and we instead loaded up the wagon (1 week plus finals left) and drove back to the Ohio Riviera town of Cincinnasti.
Checking the meet results on-line now and both the men's & women's team have continued to do very well today. Some quick highlights include O'Neal and Conlon finishing 3rd & 5th respectively in the women's discuss; Moore-Jones and Conlon wrapped-up 2nd & 6th in the women's shot put; women's 4 x 100 took second; Krolak & Schiera took the top 2 spots in the women's 3K steeplechase; and Eason won the 200M dash. On the men's side Hurley finished 3rd in the shot and Dyer took 10th; Rodgers was 3rd in the high jump and 2nd in the long jump; Bland 3rd in the triple jump; and Maier won the 1500m race.
There were a lot of other great showings too in the other events, and it's not over yet.
Results can be found here: http://www.sidearmstats.com/ukentucky/track/index.htm
WE ARE A TRACK & FIELD SCHOOLS! GO DAWGS!
On another note - we sat next to a large family contingent cheering on a hammer thrower from Transylvania University. A relative of his told me a little bit about the young man's background and the personal travails and difficulties he has gone through to become an NCAA athlete. He was the only D3 hammer thrower in the event and he made the finals. While he did not have his best day he made a couple of real solid throws, and given what he has gone through is just inspiring and awesome, the toughness and character he possesses.
A great day all-around. Soon it will be time to pour some Blanton's and watch some Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Go Isles!)
Go Dawgs!
Minor sports continue to excel in The Dale!
Men's Pre-Championship Poll
Northern Iowa was picked to finish first with 75 total points and five first-place votes. Evan Long’s time of 47.23 is the top time in the 400m dash. Connor Blough and Corey Hertz hold the second and third fastest times, respectively. Evan Long also holds the third fastest Valley time in the 200m dash. Connor Ham is currently first in the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.10. The Panthers’ 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams have the fastest times in the league. Cade Kirkpatrick ranks second in the Valley for his long jump mark. Keegan Tritle, Darius King, and Isaac Holtz hold three out of five top spots in shot put. Holtz also sits high on the Valley performance list in discus (1st), hammer (3rd) and javelin (7th). Holtz’s discus throw of 56.76m (186’ 3”) has led the league since early April and ranks 27th nationally. After last weekend’s performance, Austin Heitland sits atop the decathlon with 6,644 points.
Illinois State came in a close second with 73 points after receiving four first-place votes. Jack Anstey holds the top time in the 800m (1:48.78) and 1,500m (3:42.83). Anstey’s times rank 38th (800m) and 19th(1,500m) nationally. Kyle Mattes ranks second in the league with his time of 29:06.89 in the 10K. In the field, Francis Ehigbai sits atop the Valley performance list in the high jump with a mark of 2.06m (6’ 9”). After taking the top three spots at the 2019 MVC Indoor Championship, Kellen Kravik, Ryan Ashenbremer and Luke Nelson continue to lead the league in pole vault.
Indiana State came in third with 68 total points. JaVaughn Moore’s time of 10.52 in the 100m dash ranks first in the Valley. Jarel Shaw sits right behind his teammate with a time of 10.56. Shaw shares that time with Kundai Maguranyanga of Drake. Matthew Lewis-Banks time in the 110 hurdles is still the second-fastest time this season. Akis Medrano jumped up to top in the league with a time of 14:10.96 in the 5K. Dearis Herron ranks fourth in both long and third in triple jump so far this season. Sam Overton’s mark of 54.88 in javelin leads the league by 13’.
Securing fourth with 52 points is Southern Illinois. Josh Maier leads the league and sits 23rd nationally with a time of 28:55.43 in the 10K. Maier holds the third fastest time in the 5,000. In the field events, Willie Rodgers and Caleb Vogel are tied for second in the high jump with a height of 2.05m. Rodgers’ mark of 15.08m in triple jump leads the Valley so far this season. Mitchell Bland sits right behind Rodgers on the performance list. Adam Kessler’s shot put mark of 64’ 0.5” ranks 14th nationally and leads the league by 4’. Ricky Hurley sits second in the discus and hammer. Nate Dyer’s mark in the hammer throw of 63.05m leads the league and ranks 48th nationally.
Bradley holds onto the fifth spot with 46 points. Alec Hartman, Scott Seymour and David Shadid hold three of the top five times in the 800m. Michael Ward holds top times in the 5,000 (2nd), 10,000 (3rd) and 1,500 (4th). Haran Dunderdale boasts the top time in the 3,000 Steeplechase. Dunderdale’s time of 8:50.95 ranks 27th nationally.
Drake came in sixth with 33 points. Kundai Maguranyanga leads the Valley and ranks 18th nationally in the in the 200-meter dash with a time of 20.56. Maguranyanga is tied for second in the 100m dash. Victor Peka is tied with Maguranyanga in the 200m and tied for fourth in the 100m. Kevin Kelly overtook third place after posting a time of 3:44.72 in the 1,500m last weekend.
Loyola received 31 points, placing seventh in the preseason poll. Kevin White ranks second in both the 800m (1:49.95) and the 1,500m (3:44.15). Vince DiVenere leads the league with a time of 52.05 in the 400 hurdles. Freshman Adam Clayton is now tied for fourth in the 100m dash after his performance last weekend. Eric Burn’s mark of 7.52m in the long jump ranks first in the Valley.
Valparaiso was picked eighth with 18 points. Bryce Otterbach sits eight in the 400 hurdles. Valpo ranks seventh in the 4x100 and sixth in the 4x400 relay. Jake Rasawehr ranks fourth in the discus throw with a mark of 49.64m (162’ 10”).
Evansville received 9 points in the pre-championship poll. Stanley Chepchieng ranks sixth in the MVC in with a leap of 14.07m in triple jump.
| Place | Team (First-Place Votes) | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Iowa (5) | 75 |
| 2 | Illinois State (4) | 73 |
| 3 | Indiana State | 68 |
| 4 | Southern Illinois | 52 |
| 5 | Bradley | 46 |
| 6 | Drake | 33 |
| 7 | Loyola | 31 |
| 8 | Valparaiso | 18 |
| 9 | Evansville | 9 |
Courtesy of the Missouri Valley Conference
