Another Saluki freshman, Erin Atkinson, is also making her mark. She finished third at the Saluki Fast Start in the weight throw at a distance of 64-08. Atkinson came to SIU from St. Louis (Ladue Horton Watkins High School), where she holds the school record in the discus with a distance of 131-08. Price-Smith is quite impressed with what she's seen so far out of Atkinson. "She's really exceptional," Price-Smith said. "She will get better and better and her weight throw will continue to blossom as well as outside in the hammer and the discus." Price-Smith feels Atkinson is just scratching the surface of her potential. "She took a gigantic leap and has gotten astronomically better," she said. "She's going to do very well if she continues on the path that she's on." Atkinson credits assistant throws coach John Smith for her development. "He's a very passionate coach and he has put a lot of time in with me," Atkinson said. "I'm more confident this season and I've gotten stronger."