The 1996 Missouri Valley Conference track and field pre-Championship poll for the SIUC women’s team did not come true over the weekend at the University of Northern Iowa.

The SIUC women’s team finished a rung above their pre-Championship pick, as they took second place, while the men slid into sixth.

On the women’s side, the continued efforts of the Salukis brought them success, but not first place. Despite valiant performances by seniors Katrina Daniels, Joy Williamson, and Stephanie Smith, the score of 108 points was not enough to pull them past Illinois State, who won the women’s competition with a total of 131 points.

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SIUC gathered 108 points and Southwest Missouri State caught third place with 81 points.

Indiana State, Northern Iowa, Drake, Wichita State, and Tulsa rounded out the competition at the MVC Championships in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

The women’s team was led by the talent of several seniors.

Katrina Daniels set a MVC record and a personal recored in the 400-meter dash with a time of 55.91.

Senior Joy Williamson leaped to second place in the long jump with a distance of 19-01 1/2, and the triple jump, with a stretch of 39-10, while senior high jumper Stephanie Smith, took first place with a jump of 5-08 1/2.

Women’s assistant track and field coach, Tina Debro said Daniels’ record in the 400-meter dash was a shock to Daniels.

I think she wants to believe it (the record), but it’s hard to believe, she said.

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Sophomore Amy Stearns provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships by tossing the 20-pound weight throw a distance of 50-06 3/4 and junior hurdler Donna Wechet, won the 55-meter high hurdles with a time of 8.14.

Debro said finishing second in the MVC Championships was a pleasant result of the meet.

I think both coach DeNoon and myself thought that we did really well, Debro said. We were excited about getting second and we had a feeling Illinois State was going to win the meet.

NIU reigned as champion once again in the men’s competition, as they tallied 131 points. ISU rolled into second place scoring 88 points. Indiana State and Wichita State both followed suit, capturing third with 73 points each.

On the men’s side, 7-1 3/4 may not have been his best performance of the year, but it was enough to land senior high jumper Cameron Wright first place in the event.

Other key performances for the Salukis were turned in by fellow senior Jerome Kiaku, who leaped 50-1 3/4 in the triple jump to finish second. Junior Stelios Marneros placed third in the 3000-meter run with a time of 8:31.35, while the freshmen duo of Jeremy Parks and Andrew Fooks took fourth and fifth places respectively.

Men’s track and field coach, Bill Cornell said his team just did not have a good meet and that they will have to concentrate on the outdoor season now.

I’m obviously disappointed, Cornell said. You always hope for more, and especially don’t like being out of the upper bracket, but we finished sixth before and then bounced back the next year.

We’ve got to get it together, regroup, and shoot for a good outdoor season, Cornell said.