Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Track and Field	SIUE Track and Field SIUE Athletics

Kyle Rose Scott Block

February 27, 2007 Cougars Win GLVC and Head To Nationals         After dominating the Great Lakes Valley Conference Indoor Championships, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville men's track and field team is setting its sites on the NCAA Division II indoor championships. Kyle Rose (Kankakee) and Scott Block (Hanover Park) will be looking to continue their success at the NCAA Division II nationals. Both were on the competition list for the meet to be held March 9-10 in Boston, Mass.         Rose will be competing in both the 200- and the 400-meter dash. Rose is ranked 12th going into the 200 and eighth going into the 400.         "Kyle has been to these types of meets before and done well. He is experienced, and I expect him to do well," said Astrauskas.         This will be Block's first NCAA Division II championship event. However, Astrauskas knows how to win. He was a junior college national champion in the discus and shot put. Block is ranked 11th going into the national meet.         "I expect him to treat this like any other meet and record a strong throw," said Astrauskas.         "This is a smaller group than we have taken to nationals in the past and hopefully this will motivate people for the outdoor season," said Astrauskas.         At the GLVC Indoor Championships, SIUE won as Jonathan Bannister (Plano, Texas) was named Athlete of the Year, and SIUE track and field coach Dave Astrauskas earned Coach of the Year honors.         Bannister competed in both hurdle events, the team's relays and won the 400-meter dash with a time of 48.69.         "He earned a lot of points for the team that we needed," said Astrauskas.         Rose also had a great day for the Cougars winning the 200 meter dash in 48.69.         "Kyle had some good performances in the 55-meter dash, the 200-meter dash and the 400-meter dash," said Astrauskas.         Block broke the GLVC Championships record with a throw of 16.80 meters (55 feet, 1.5 inches).         "We are still modifying his technique and I think once it is perfected he will be able to throw a little farther. But it was nice to see him break the conference record by four feet," said Astrauskas.         "On paper we were supposed to win, but you don't win on paper. Our kids did a great job competing, scratching and clawing to get every place they could," said Astrauskas.         Astrauskas took home coach of the year honors for the men's team. But he believes that it should be the coaching staff of the year award because assistant coaches Ben Beyers and Eileen McAllister deserve a lot of credit for the team's success.         "Each did a great job getting their athletes prepared, and I think we work well together as a staff," said Astrauskas.                 -siue cougars-