Men’s Track Conference Preview

SIUC men’s senior triple jumper Sam Rone wants to go out on top in his final Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championship meet.

Rone and the Salukis will compete at the MVC Championships this weekend in Normal to finish out the indoor season.

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Rone, who is currently ranked fourth in the MVC in the triple jump (49 feet 3 inches), is looking forward to a longer runway in Normal to help him lengthen his jump.

This is my last year, and all I can say is my fourth-place jump was on a shorter run, Rone said. I would like to take home a plaque and qualify for nationals plus the fact that there is no tomorrow because this is my senior year.

A jump of 51 feet 2.25 inches is required to qualify for nationals.

Rone said competing in his last indoor MVC championship will add pressure, but it will not affect him.

I would say it’s like good pressure because I get some adrenaline flowing and my back is against the wall, Rone said. It’s a good environment for me to be in.

Along with Rone, the Salukis will bring the top-ranked triple jumper, sophomore Jeraldo Henry (50 feet 1.75 inches), and the No. 1 high jumper, sophomore Loren King (6 feet 10.25 inches).

Men’s track and field coach Bill Cornell said the jumping events will play a vital part in the outcome of the meet for the Salukis.

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Our jumps are the strong point in the meet, Cornell said. The long jump, triple jump and high jump should play important factors.

The Salukis should see the toughest competition from Illinois State University and Northern Iowa University, who are the top- ranked teams in conference. Cornell said he wants to get the premium effort out of his athletes in the meet.

I’ve been telling the kids, Go up there and give the best individual performance you can,’ Cornell said. I just want them to try to have a P.R. (personal record) in their event.

Cornell said the numerous injuries have hurt the Salukis chances of winning a championship in the indoor season.

The team will be without seniors Elliot Young (high jumper), Orlando McKee (long jumper/sprinter), Neophytos Kalogerou (high jumper), junior Joseph Parks (distance runner) and sophomore Andy Bosak (distance runner).

Those five people could score about as much as the team we’re taking, Cornell said. It’s almost like a basketball game and we’re going to play Illinois State (top seed in the conference basketball tournament) without our starting five. We’ve just been snakebit this year.

The SIUC men’s track and field team will compete at the MVC Championships in Normal this weekend.