By: Staff Writer
Shafiqua Maloney defies the odds: Maloney etched her name in the history books of the school as she is now the first student athlete to win the Most Outstanding Track athlete title.
The former Verhilds High School track star won both the 200m and 400m dashes and helped Southern Illinois University sweep the relays for the second-consecutive season.
Her outstanding performance on the track also earned her, the Most Valuable Athlete honors. While being the fourth, (Saluki) athlete to win the Most Valuable Athlete honours, she also is the fifth female in MVC history to win both the 200m and the 400m at the conference outdoor meet.
In a time of 53.19, Shafiqua won her first 400m outdoor title and broke the Gibson Track and Field Complex facility record. A feat she will remember for years to come as it is her life-time best.
Additionally, she also won the 200m in 23.17 (3.5 wind). She was part of the quartet that won their second-straight 4×100 relay title with a time of 44.59.
Maloney was also a member of the winning 4×400 relay to break the facility record at 3:38.10. Shafiqua ran a 53.3 split on the anchor leg to help her school complete the indoor/outdoor sweep of the event.
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