Southern Illinois track and field kicked off the 2012-13 indoor track season with a strong showing at the Saluki Fast Start, taking nine total titles Saturday at the SIU Recreation Center.

Saluki Track and Field opens the indoor season at home on Saturday with the Saluki Fast Start, with competition beginning with the field events at 10 a.m. in the SIU Recreation Center.

Southern Illinois head track and field coach Connie Price-Smith led the Homecoming Festivities as Grand Marshall on Saturday for the football game against Northern Iowa.

Southern Illinois' track and field team will hold sprints and jumps tryouts on Aug. 27 at the Saluki Track and Field Complex.

Saluki freshman finished 18th in the women's hammer throw with a mark of 57.82 meters.

Southern Illinois track and field athlete DeAnna Price will compete for Team USA at the IAAF World Junior Championships, which begin Tuesday in Barcelona, Spain.

The former Saluki finished eighth in the US Track and Field Olympic Trials, four spots out of an invite for Team USA's London contingent.

Former Saluki Jeneva McCall sits fifth entering Friday's final. The top four make Team USA for the Olympics.

Jeneva McCall finished 15th in the women's discus while Jeff Schirmer took 16th in the men's 10k run.

Brittany Riley finished sixth while Gwen Berry took seventh and Jeneva McCall took 10th in the women's hammer throw.