Southern brings home two All-Americans

Nov. 21, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cross country athletes Koehler, Russell capture All-America awards

Missouri Southern’s men’s cross country team, making its fifth straight NCAA Division II Championships appearance, finished 22nd on Saturday at the national meet in Evansville, Ind.

The Lion men brought home one All-America from the meet. Senior Paul Koehler (St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh) finished 33rd overall, completing the 10-kilometer course in 33 minutes, 18.0 seconds. It marked the first career All-America honor for the 6-foot and 140-pound senior, who also collected Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) individual champion and All-South Central Region honors this season.

For the Southern women, Megan Russell (Jefferson City, Mo.) closed out her career with an All-America finish as well. The 5-foot-4 junior, who plans to complete her collegiate career this year, placed 34th in the women’s 6K race, finishing in 23:04.6. Russell, an All-MIAA and all-region runner in 2004, was among Southern’s top two runners all season.

While Russell was the only MSSU women’s runner at the national meet, the Southern men fielded an entire team due to their third place finish at the South Central Region Championships two weeks ago. The Lions finished 22nd with a score of 575 in the meet won by Western State (Colo.).

Junior Lucas Plocher (West Plains, Mo.) finished 137th (35:27.7, 121st among team runners) and senior Craig Rhoads (West Plains, Mo.) was 150th (35:53.9, 133rd).

The Lions, with a young squad in 2004, also had a sophomore and three freshmen competing at the NCAA meet. Freshman Brandon Wheeler (Fort Smith, Ark./Northside) finished 154th overall (36:08.01, 137th) and freshman Anthony Reed (Carl Junction, Mo.) was 169th (36:53.5, 152nd). Sophomore Dustin Miller (Carthage, Mo.) was 170th (36:54.2, 153rd) and freshman Kyle Davis (Potosi, Mo.) was 177th (37:45.2, 160th).


	Nov. 21, 2004 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Southern brings home two All-Americans Cross country athletes Koehler, Russell capture All-America awards Missouri Southern’s men’s cross country team, making its fifth straight NCAA Division II Championships appearance, finished 22nd on Saturday at the national meet in Evansville, Ind. The Lion men brought home one All-America from the meet. Senior Paul Koehler (St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh) finished 33rd overall, completing the 10-kilometer course in 33 minutes, 18.0 seconds. It marked the first career All-America honor for the 6-foot and 140-pound senior, who also collected Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) individual champion and All-South Central Region honors this season. For the Southern women, Megan Russell (Jefferson City, Mo.) closed out her career with an All-America finish as well. The 5-foot-4 junior, who plans to complete her collegiate career this year, placed 34th in the women’s 6K race, finishing in 23:04.6. Russell, an All-MIAA and all-region runner in 2004, was among Southern’s top two runners all season. While Russell was the only MSSU women’s runner at the national meet, the Southern men fielded an entire team due to their third place finish at the South Central Region Championships two weeks ago. The Lions finished 22nd with a score of 575 in the meet won by Western State (Colo.). Junior Lucas Plocher (West Plains, Mo.) finished 137th (35:27.7, 121st among team runners) and senior Craig Rhoads (West Plains, Mo.) was 150th (35:53.9, 133rd). The Lions, with a young squad in 2004, also had a sophomore and three freshmen competing at the NCAA meet. Freshman Brandon Wheeler (Fort Smith, Ark./Northside) finished 154th overall (36:08.01, 137th) and freshman Anthony Reed (Carl Junction, Mo.) was 169th (36:53.5, 152nd). Sophomore Dustin Miller (Carthage, Mo.) was 170th (36:54.2, 153rd) and freshman Kyle Davis (Potosi, Mo.) was 177th (37:45.2, 160th).