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Media Credit: Emily Sunblade Senior thrower Brittany Riley from Flossmor prepares her shot put throw at the Recreation Center during the McDonalds Invitational Saturday Feb. 9. On March 14 at the NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., Riley won her second consecutive national title in the women's weight throw.

Brittany Riley has cemented her status as an elite thrower after her second-consecutive national title.

SIU's senior thrower defended her weight throw title at the NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., March 14, three days after the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association named Riley Midwest Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year.

On her third attempt, Riley won the event with an 83-1 3/4 throw, coming almost eight inches below the unofficial world-record she set last season. Riley's championship-winning throw was more than 10 feet farther than that of Arizona State's Jessica Pressley, who finished in second place with a throw that measured 72-4 1/4.

Riley, the American and collegiate record-holder in the weight throw, said she hoped to break the record she set in 2007.

"I've been throwing far in practice the last couple of weeks and I really felt like I could go out there and do well," Riley said. "I was really hoping to break my record and I didn't, but I'm very glad that I came out with the win."

Junior jumper Bianca Stuart joined Riley as the other Saluki to participate in the NCAA Championships. After fouling on her first two attempts, Stuart's 20-foot 1-inch jump was good enough for a 13th place finish in the long jump.

Head coach Connie Price-Smith said she was proud of Riley and Stuart's contributions, which helped the SIU women's team reach No. 14 in the USTFCCCA top-25 poll Jan. 29. The Salukis finished the season ranked No. 24 in the country.

Smith said she has to refocus the team on duplicating its success during the outdoor season, where both Stuart and Riley had success last season.

In 2007, Stuart picked up an outdoor Missouri Valley Conference championship in the long jump and Riley placed second at the 2007 Outdoor National Championships in the hammer throw.

The outdoor season begins for the Salukis March 28 when SIU hosts the Spring Classic at McAndrew Stadium. Stuart said she hopes her indoor success will carry over.

"It was great experience and it gave me confidence going into the outdoor season," Stuart said.

Luis C. Medina can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 238 or lcm1986@siu.edu.

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