The SIUC men’s track and field team is welcoming back a recuperated group of athletes to begin the outdoor season.

Seniors Orlando McKee (long jumper/sprinter) and Elliot Young (high jumper/decathlete), junior distance runner Joseph Parks, and sophomore distance runner Andy Bosak will return to the Salukis for the outdoor season after sitting out the indoor season with injuries.

McKee owns the fifth-fastest outdoor time in SIUC history in the 200-meter dash with a time of 20.94 seconds, the sixth-fastest time in the 100-meter dash (10.49) and is 10th in the long jump with a jump of 24 feet and 7 3/4 inches.

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Young owns the fifth-highest score in SIUC history in the decathlon with 7,075 points and is seventh in the javelin with a throw of 185 feet 4 inches.

Parks has a grasp on the eighth-quickest time in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:03.73), while Bosak is also a solid competitor in the steeplechase.

Men’s track and field coach Bill Cornell said the return of the injured athletes will be a big plus for the team.

I think the team realizes we’re adding good strength, Cornell said. Plus, the addition of the javelin and the decathletes will help.

The Salukis finished the indoor season in fourth place at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships Friday and Saturday in Normal.

The Salukis will compete in their first outdoor meet March 14 at the University of Southern Mississippi with a full lineup excluding senior high jumper Neophytos Kalogerou, who is out for the year with a torn Achilles tendon.

Cornell said the opening meet should help the team come together with its returning strength.

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It’s just a real test for us to get started, Cornell said. We just want to get some camaraderie for the team. Hopefully, it’s going to be a fun time and we’ll get some good weather and get rolling.

The women’s track and field team will attempt to improve on a disappointing fifth-place finish in the MVC Championships last year. However, they showed signs of life by finishing third in the indoor championships.

DeNoon said the biggest difference between the indoor and outdoor season is the increase in the throwing events and relays.

We add the hammer, javelin and discus, DeNoon said. We also add a sprint relay and drop the distance medley. In some respects, it balances out the distance and sprints, and on the other hand, it adds more throws.

Heading into the first meet of the season at Southern Mississippi, DeNoon and his team are going in with high expectations.

I’d like to win if it’s team scored I’m not sure if it is, DeNoon said. We just want to stay healthy over spring break during the hard training and competition.

The men’s and women’s track and field team open the outdoor season March 14 at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss.