CARBONDALE, Ill. – Saint Louis' indoor track and field squads opened their season Saturday on a high note at the Saluki Fast Start meet on the campus of Southern Illinois University.
Among the highlights of the opening weekend was the performance of Kita Alvares. She won the 400 meters with a PR of 57.17, and ran a time of 9.08 in the 60-meter hurdles, also a PR.
The women's 4x400-meter relay squad, consisting of Alvares, Allison Walter, Brooklynn Bastain and Hannah Rhode, finished first with a time of 3:54.15.
Margo Richardson won the 3,000 meters, crossing the finish in 9:53.29. Annika Gomell, running in her first collegiate indoor meet, finished second in a time of 9:59.87.
Naya Owusu jumped 5-7 to finish second in the high jump, while Stephanie Uhrich was fourth in the pole vault with a height of 10-6. The SLU women dominated the 400 meters, claiming the three top times. Alvares won it, followed by Rhode, who finished second in 58.33. Walter placed third overall with a time of 58.46.
Marina White was one of three Billikens in the top four in the 800 meters. She finished first overall with a time of 2:24.49. Laura Schlueter was third (2:26.20), while Jackie Bynes finished fourth with a time of 2:32.82.
Four Billikens finished in the top six in the mile. Jamee Holmes was second with a time of 5:21.02, just ahead of third-place Kayla Snyder (5:22.45). Madie Alexander finished fifth overall with time of 5:27.57, while Emily Meingast was the sixth-overall finisher with a time of 5:32.49.
On the men's side, Tim Zellmer won the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:37.78. Neal Fitzpatrick finished second in the 3,000 for Saint Louis, crossing in 8:55.20.
DeeJay Owens set the school record in triple jump, finished fourth with a leap of 43-8.
Chad Maxwell won the mile with a time of 4:22.24 as four Billikens finished in the top five. Henry Arndt was the next Billiken finisher with a time of 4:25.86.
SLU had the top four finishers in the 400 meters. Griffin McCurren was first with a time of 51.80, followed by Luke Hibbeler in second with a time of 51.84. Tommy Whittaker was next with a time of 52.15, while Nathan Hall was fourth overall with a time of 52.27.
Albert Marban and Pat Sheil finished first and second in the 800 meters with times of 1:57.90 and 1:58.04, respectively.
The Billikens' 4x400-meter relay squad of McCurren, Sheil, Whittaker and Hibbeler finished first with a time of 3:26.93.
SLU returns to action Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014, at the Illini Invite in Champaign, Ill.
