Track Hopes Home Cooking Provides Strong Performances
         Coach Darryl Frerker said his team looks forward to competing at home.
         “We are going into this home meet knowing we have a great facility,” said Frerker. “We are setting ourselves up for some quality performances. If we have a good day, everything will fall into place.”
         The Cougar Classic begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Ralph Korte Stadium. Along with SIUE, the meet features 12 other schools – Danville Community College, Washington University, Maryville University, Greenville College, Harris-Stowe State College, Olivet Nazarene University, Wilberforce University (Ohio), Central Methodist College, Fontbonne College, Lindenwood University, McKendree College and Carthage College (Wisconsin).
         Frerker also looks at this as the final tune-up for the conference championships.
         “We are going to rely on personal records going into the conference meet. I also look for a little improvement on the men’s and women’s team scores.”
         There are three Cougars who Frerker is keeping an eye on – Daniel Walden (Springfield) and Ruth Kipping (Quincy) in the 800-meter run and George Murphy (Virden) in the javelin. “They are close to qualifying (provisionally for nationals).”
        
         Last weekend, the Cougars competed at Washington University. The men finished sixth of 19 teams while the women finished 14th of 17 teams.
         “We had several personal records, despite the weather. It was too windy to anticipate any qualifying performances.”
         Walden finished second in the 800-meter run with a time of one minute, 55 seconds.
         “Dan ran a good, smart race. Every aspect of his race was right where he wanted it to be expect the final stretch.”
         Murphy finished second in the javelin throw with a distance of 172 feet, one inch.
         “George had another consistent effort in the javelin.”