April 16, 2003

Alahaivala named MIAA Athlete of the Week

Mika Alahaivala was named Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association men's field athlete of the week on Tuesday in the sport of track & field.

Alahaivala, a 5-8 sophomore from Ylivieska, Finland, punched his ticket to the NCAA Division II national championships in the javelin last weekend with a school record throw of 223 feet, 7 inches. Not only is the throw an automatic qualifying mark for the national meet, it's also the top mark thus far in NCAA Division II.

Alahaivala's throw won the javelin competition at Saturday's University of Arkansas John McDonnell Invitational.

The Southern track & field teams are back in action starting today at the University of Kansas Relays. The meet begins today with the decathlon/heptathlon and continues through Saturday.