The Southern Illinois Salukis men’s and women’s track and field teams reported a series of personal bests and first-place finishes at the Joey Haines Invitational in Missouri on April 6. The meet marked the second outdoor competition of the 2026 season for the program.
The event was significant as it allowed athletes to build momentum early in the outdoor season, with several competitors achieving new milestones. The Salukis compete at the NCAA Division I level as part of the Missouri Valley Conference, according to the official website.
Xavier Preston secured first place in the men’s 100-meter dash with a time of 10.74 seconds. Leah Thames won the women’s 200 meters and placed third in the 100 meters, just ahead of teammate KeyAnn Wilson who finished fourth. In field events, Kylee Weber recorded a season-best performance in pole vault, while Ella McDonnell cleared 1.70 meters to finish second in high jump. On the men’s side, Christian Coleman placed second in high jump (2.10m), and Malik Allen claimed victory in triple jump with a mark of 14.80 meters.
Additional highlights included Shane Ashton winning the men’s 400-meter hurdles and Na’Kyrah Cooks finishing second in women’s long jump. Jordan Smith added another win for Southern Illinois by taking first place in javelin throw with a mark of 56.85 meters.
Layla Watson delivered standout performances by winning the women’s 400 meters (56.59) and setting a personal best in the 200 meters (25.49). Jalen Dickerson took second place in men’s 400 meters (48.46). Jamison Love finished fourth in women’s 100-meter hurdles before winning her heat of the women’s 400-meter hurdles (1:06:20). Otto De St. Jeor led a sweep for Southern Illinois men’s sprinters by taking first place in men’s 200 meters.
The program utilizes Lew Hartzog Track and Field Complex as its primary venue, according to its official website.
Director Jones said he was pleased with how his athletes handled challenging weather conditions during competition: “We had some solid performances this past weekend at SEMO. Outdoor track presents its own set of challenges with the weather, and we experienced that this past weekend. We were able to get some work and good marks in on all events and start building for the next meet.”
Southern Illinois Salukis Men’s Track & Field operates from Carbondale, Illinois according to its official website.
