Men minus Scotten, former jumps coach Cameron Wright

With the loss of All-American pole vaulter and NCAA qualifier Ray Scotten, along with long-time coach Cameron Wright, one might think the track and field team would be in hot water this season.

But that is far from the truth. Through the changes, the Salukis have come together to create a strong team atmosphere.

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Connie Price-Smith was named head coach of both men’s and women’s track and field team last May. Although there are more people to manage, she is fitting into her role smoothly.

“It’s not any harder, it’s just a lot more of it,” Price-Smith. “It is a lot more time consuming.”

Sprints, hurdles and jumps coach Lawrence Johnson said he has seen the team become more cohesive since the merger.

“They are feeling more and more like a team and even a family,” Johnson said.

Johnson added that when they had separate programs, each coach had different philosophies and different coaching styles. But with both men and women under one coach, everyone is on the same page and gets the most out of their experiences.

Sophomore sprinter Sherlinia Green has the same feelings about the new structure of the team.

“The boys and girls are more close-knit,” Green said. “Last year we didn’t even know the guys’ names.”

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Scotten, a stand out pole-vaulter, transferred to Nebraska to join a nationally ranked track and field team. As a Saluki, he made a strong impact on the team by breaking the school record (18-00.50) in pole vault. Scotten also made it to the NCAA Outdoor Pole Vault Nationals last season.

Price-Smith said that despite the big hole left by Scotten, she is very happy for him and believes her young group of pole vaulters will fill the hole with time and experience.

“I won’t say that we will end up where Ray was,” Price-Smith said. “But we will end up doing well in that conference event.”

Wright, who was the men’s track and field coach last season, decided to leave the team to pursue a pharmaceutical job.

Both track and field teams will begin their indoor season tomorrow with the Saluki Fast Start Invitational at the Recreation Center. Lincoln University, Southeast Missouri State and the men’s team from Illinois will compete against the Salukis.

The meet is seen as a warm up for the season to help see where SIU stands in the throngs of competition.

“It’s just to see how far they have come in their training and to see where we are at right now so that we’ll know where they stand when we come back from break,” Price-Smith said.

Johnson said that this will be some of the first collegiate meets for the freshmen and it will be a good experience for them to feel things out and learn the ropes of collegiate track and field.

It will also be a good meet for the returning competitors to get back in the swing of things.

“We are not going out there expecting to blaze it up or get some great, fast times,” Daux said. “So you are looking to get good results your first meet and improve on your next meet and then peak at conference and nationals.”

Price-Smith expects the team to do better than last year on both the men and women’s sides. If everyone does what they are supposed to in training, she believes both teams will be in contention at the MVC Championships.

Johnson said the women’s team will have an abundance of experience and depth and sees Kelsey Toussaint, lone senior and 2003-2004 regional qualifier in the 100-meter dash, as a team leader.

“She has great team leadership and ability to take us throughout the season,” Johnson said.

Price-Smith expects the throwers, junior Amarachi Ukabam and freshman Britney Riley, to have breakout seasons.

She also sees freshman sprinter Peta-Gayne Green contributing from the beginning.

On the men’s side, last season’s 100-meter hurdle regional qualifier Daux, Felix Anderson and Anthony Ackland look to lead the team of sprinters. Johnson also sees Antione Jennings as a definite force in the MVC.

Junior triple jumper Kenan Shadd, along with freshman jumper Josh Cullers, are also pointed as ones to look out for this season.

The Salukis are setting their sights on a few meets where the competition should be good, including the Indiana Hoosier meet, the February home meet and the Iowa State meet.

SIU will host the MVC Indoor Championships this year.