SIU T&F: National Exposure

While many students travel south during spring break for the beaches, parties and relaxation, seven Salukis will make their way south to compete in the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., on March 13-14.

Five women and two men are set to represent Southern Illinois this weekend. On the men's side, sophomore Kyle Landon will compete in high jump, while junior Josh Freeman will throw for the Salukis in shot put. Throwers make up the majority of the Salukis on the female side, with Sophia Lozano andDeAnna Price competing in weight throw and Raven Saunders and Ashley Gaston in the shot put. Freshman Lindsey Murray rounds out the Salukis' group, striving to be the first freshman to take the indoor pole vault title.

The rush of the competition, the excitement of being surrounded by the country's best athletes and the anticipation of a possible national title await the Salukis as they make their arrival at the national championships.

National Championships At A Glance

Lindsey Murray

Event: Pole Vault

Class: Freshman

Hometown: Harrisburg

National Ranking: 12th

Best Mark of the Year: 4.30m (14-01.25)

MVC Indoor Finish: 1st in pole vault - 4.18m (13-08.50)

Nationals History: NA

Fact: Murray is SIU's first-ever women's MVC pole vault champion in either season. In her debut season, Murray broke the all-time SIU record in her first meet as a Saluki and went on to break her own all-time record three more times throughout the season.

Murray Says: "Getting to represent my home area on a national level is pretty cool, and getting to compete against some of the top pole vaulters in the nation is pretty awesome. Going into it, I just know I need to treat it the same as I have every other meet. You don't go to a meet wanting second, so I'm going to go in, try to do the best I can, PR, be an All-American. There are definitely some nerves, but I think it's a good thing. I can use it in a positive way."