Track and field team look out for hot feet

By Gus Bode

Students who believe they have the speed will be given the opportunity to burn rubber and potentially become a part of the SIU track and field team.

“It’s basically just another way to evaluate and potentially bring in some athletes that may have been either overlooked or to provide an opportunity for individuals to make the team,” said Chidi Enyia, Saluki sprints coach.

The track and field team will be holding tryouts Wednesday, Aug. 24 at 3 p.m. for sprinters. Enyia said the decision to hold tryouts is based on need. He said there are students who have the potential to bring the track and field team some positive support.

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“If we can pick up anyone from the tryout, it does add depth, possible quality depth. That’s the potential there,” Enyia said. “Tryouts … provide that opportunity, so we may be able to sign some pretty good athletes.”

Due to the fact the team is looking for athletes who can clear certain times and provide solid competition, Enyia said he will run the potential sprinters during tryouts to evaluate their abilities.

“I’ll run them through a few tests, and I’ll have some specific measures or numbers that I’m looking for,” Enyia said. “If they … meet those specific requirements, then we go ahead and we make sure that they have … met all the NCAA eligibility requirements and academic requirements.”

Junior sprinter Tess Shubert is on scholarship at SIU and said some athletes may not have the same opportunities as others. She said tryouts give those athletes the ability to display their talent.

“There are a lot of runners who … fly under the radar and they just don’t get noticed in high school or they don’t get recruited. They went to a small high school like me,” Shubert said. “They have the talent, they just haven’t had the opportunity.”

Senior sprinter Courtney Hill is a walk-on sprinter for SIU and said walk-on athletes can play major roles in a team’s success.

“We had a couple walk-ons last season and they actually made it all the way to conference, which is the highest level we can go,” Hill said. “They showed they could do just as good as the people who received scholarships.”

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The Salukis finished the 2010 season second in the conference despite being heavily understaffed on the women’s end of the team.

“We only had 19 girls,” Hill said. “The guys were only short one point, and they lost against Indiana State. Came down to one event.”

Shubert said this experience has helped the team members realize what they’re capable of.

“Overall, I think we became stronger as a team because we all found something deeper inside of us,” Shubert said. “We all were expected to show more because there were less of us.”

Hill said the team expects a lot from returning athletes, and the new recruits will provide a strong push to help the Salukis take the conference.

“We’re gonna have a really good incoming class of freshmen, and we still have a bunch of juniors and seniors,” Hill said. “I think we can actually win conference again this year, both men and women.”

 

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