The SLIAC Track and Field season gets in full swing this weekend with the Principia Relays. Seven of eight conference programs will be competing at the event, held in Elsah, Illinois. Friday's schedule will include field events such as the long jump and weight throw as well as running events such as the 60-yard dash and 5000-meter run. Saturday's events begin at 9:30 a.m.
This weekend will mark the first time a Beaver track and field program has competed in 30 years. Head Coach Al Sturgeon will be working with a few of his cross-country runners as well as welcoming in some multi-sport athletes. The Beavers will compete in the middle and distance events.
The Red Devils will be looking to carry their success from the fall cross-country season into the track and field season. Led by Karissa Heffernan, the Red Devils placed 2nd in cross country this past fall and boasted two women's All-Conference runners and two men's All-Conference runners. The Red Devils will once again focus on middle and long-distance events in track and field.
Fontbonne opened up the 2023 season last weekend at the Snow Bird Invite. Alex Lofgren shined for the Griffins with a 1st place finish in the 400-meters. She is currently leading the conference in both the 400 and 200 meters. Madelyn Huffstetter sits in 2nd in the conference in the 60-meters while Holly Pearce ranks 5th in the weight throw and Ogechi Okpara is 5th in shot put. On the men's side, it was the throwers that made their mark with Mark Fisher ranking 2nd in shot put and Tyree Simms 3rd with both in the top ten in the weight throw as well. KeYonn Hall-Baker is 4th in the SLIAC in the high jump while Gabriel Hoekel had a strong showing in the mile and 3000 meters.
The Panthers opened up the 2023 year with an impressive showing at the Snow Bird Invite. They currently have 21 athletes atop the conference performance list. Dylan Webster led the way with three top-three showings. He currently leads the conference in the high jump and long jump marks. Kaleb Carlson posted a 4:35 in the mile while Claudio Trevino and James McMinns are 2-3 in the 400 meters. On the women's side, Cayden Sharp leads the conference in three events while Tawny Rodriguez leads in two events. The Panthers look to be strong in the 800 meters with Olivia Mansfield leading the way.
Principia will be making their season debut this weekend. The Panthers men's team should be strong in the relay events as well as the middle distance where Jimmy Woodrow will be competing. Geena Richards will be the pacesetter on the women's side. A team captain, and three-time All-Conference performer, Richards will be joined by Laura Mayo and Kyrstyn Cieply.
Spalding started their season at the Mount St. Joseph Invite last weekend with the men's team finishing in 8th. Peter McGowan picked up a top-five finish and Wyatt Frye joined him in the Spalding record book. McGowan had the 6th-best finish in the 5000 meters while Frye set a school record in the high jump. Frye also ranks 3rd in the SLIAC in the mile. Lexie Barthmaier sits in 2nd in the SLIAC in the 3000 meters and 4th in the mile. Dawn Wilson is the team's top sprinter, ranking in the top seven in the conference in both the 60-meters and 200-meters.
The Gorloks will be competing in their third event this season after the Titan First Chance and Snow Bird Invite. Aissata Kamara sits in 3rd in the SLIAC in 200 meters and 4th in 60 meters. Kianna Patton meanwhile is 5th in both events and 3rd in the long jump. Micah Barnes ranks 2nd in the conference in 400 meters with Isabelle Llewellyn ranking 4th in the weight throw. Elijah Perez is off to a strong start this season, ranking 1st in the 400 meters and 4th in the 60 meters. Cameron Sakuma and Kaelin Triggs are two of the top distance runners. Armond Williams ranks 2nd in the high jump and 1st in the 60-meter hurdles.
The Blue Jays open up the season this weekend. Michael Giles is the team's top returning middle distance runner, as he was the team's top finisher in both the 800-meters and mile last year. Also back is Lane Martin, who competes in distance running. Moenaisa Sidique returns and is the team's top runner at the 400-meters, where she led all SLIAC runners last year. Emily Nelson and Celena Weber are back as the team's top throwers while Gracie Hamrick is back as the team's top sprinter.