Four signees announced for men’s track & field

Head coach Tom Rutledge announced today that four prep standouts have signed on with the Missouri Southern State University men’s track & field squad.

Nick Vince (Polmont, Falkirk, Scotland), Russell Ellis (Norman, Ark.), Chris Farmer (Carl Junction, Mo.) and Anthony Reed (Carl Junction, Mo.) have each announced their intentions to attend Missouri Southern and participate in track & field.

“Nick Vince is a guy who has already thrown the collegiate shot 52 feet, but he’ll be learning the hammer and discus,” Rutledge said. “Russell Ellis is a state champion pole vaulter in the state of Arkansas that we’re very happy to have and he will add to our crew of vaulters.

“We’re very pleased to have Anthony Reed, a local distance and cross country runner, who has had a great high school career join our squad. Chris Farmer, also from Carl Junction, should help us immensely in the sprints, where we desparately need it.”

Here is a rundown of the four newest additions for the MSSU men’s track & field/cross country teams:

Nick Vince, 6-1, 240, Throws, Polmont, Falkirk, Scotland

Vince is an American citizen who has lived in Scotland and has been coached by his father, Andy, who has been a thrower and a throwers’ coach in the U.S. Nick Vince is already an accomplished thrower in the shot put and will be learning the hammer and discus at Southern.

Son of Andy Vince and Danielle Knowland, who both participated in track & field at Murray State (Ky.). His mother was a distance runner, while his father, who hails from Scotland, was a thrower.

Chris Farmer, 5-7, 150, Sprints, Carl Junction, Mo. (Carl Junction HS)

A standout in track and soccer for the Bulldogs, Farmer earned all-state honors in both sports. He set school record of 10.8 seconds in the 100-meter dash and ran on a record-setting 4x200 relay team. Earned all-state honors in both the 100 and 200 meters.

On the soccer pitch, Farmer set school records for most goals in a season (27) and in assists (25).

The son of Richard and Julie Farmer, he helped the soccer Bulldogs of coach Tom Cassady win three Big Eight Conference titles and fueled the track team of coach Frank Pittman to a pair of district championships. His father played football at Missouri Southern in 1975.

Russell Ellis, 5-11, 170, Pole Vault, Norman, Ark. (Caddo Hills HS)

A three-sport standout for the Indians, Ellis set school records in the pole vault and triple jump but is expected to specialize in the pole vault at Missouri Southern. He set school record of 14 feet, 6 inches in the Nashville Scrapper Relays to better his old record of 13-1. Ellis also owns the CHHS triple jump record of 39 feet, 8.5 inches.

Ellis lettered three years each in track & field, football and baseball. He was named all-district and all-state in track and was an all-conference selection at third base in baseball. The son of Rodney and Jay Dee Standridge, he was the Indians’ starting quarterback for three years in football.

Anthony Reed, 5-8, 131, Distance/Cross Country, Carl Junction, Mo. (Carl Junction HS)

A three-year letterman in cross country and track and field, this Missouri Southern recruit helped the Bulldogs win back-to-back Big Eight Conference championships in both sports. Reed earned all-state honors in cross country and also was named to all-conference and all-district teams in both cross country and track. The son of Randall and Tammy Reed, he also participated in basketball and soccer.

Rutledge has led the Lions to four consecutive MIAA cross country championships and, this past February, guided Southern to its first MIAA men’s track & field championship of any kind, indoors or outdoors, as MSSU hosted the league indoor meet at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.


	April 14, 2004 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Four signees announced for men’s track & field Head coach Tom Rutledge announced today that four prep standouts have signed on with the Missouri Southern State University men’s track & field squad. Nick Vince (Polmont, Falkirk, Scotland), Russell Ellis (Norman, Ark.), Chris Farmer (Carl Junction, Mo.) and Anthony Reed (Carl Junction, Mo.) have each announced their intentions to attend Missouri Southern and participate in track & field. “Nick Vince is a guy who has already thrown the collegiate shot 52 feet, but he’ll be learning the hammer and discus,” Rutledge said. “Russell Ellis is a state champion pole vaulter in the state of Arkansas that we’re very happy to have and he will add to our crew of vaulters. “We’re very pleased to have Anthony Reed, a local distance and cross country runner, who has had a great high school career join our squad. Chris Farmer, also from Carl Junction, should help us immensely in the sprints, where we desparately need it.” Here is a rundown of the four newest additions for the MSSU men’s track & field/cross country teams: Nick Vince, 6-1, 240, Throws, Polmont, Falkirk, Scotland Vince is an American citizen who has lived in Scotland and has been coached by his father, Andy, who has been a thrower and a throwers’ coach in the U.S. Nick Vince is already an accomplished thrower in the shot put and will be learning the hammer and discus at Southern. Son of Andy Vince and Danielle Knowland, who both participated in track & field at Murray State (Ky.). His mother was a distance runner, while his father, who hails from Scotland, was a thrower. Chris Farmer, 5-7, 150, Sprints, Carl Junction, Mo. (Carl Junction HS) A standout in track and soccer for the Bulldogs, Farmer earned all-state honors in both sports. He set school record of 10.8 seconds in the 100-meter dash and ran on a record-setting 4x200 relay team. Earned all-state honors in both the 100 and 200 meters. On the soccer pitch, Farmer set school records for most goals in a season (27) and in assists (25). The son of Richard and Julie Farmer, he helped the soccer Bulldogs of coach Tom Cassady win three Big Eight Conference titles and fueled the track team of coach Frank Pittman to a pair of district championships. His father played football at Missouri Southern in 1975. Russell Ellis, 5-11, 170, Pole Vault, Norman, Ark. (Caddo Hills HS) A three-sport standout for the Indians, Ellis set school records in the pole vault and triple jump but is expected to specialize in the pole vault at Missouri Southern. He set school record of 14 feet, 6 inches in the Nashville Scrapper Relays to better his old record of 13-1. Ellis also owns the CHHS triple jump record of 39 feet, 8.5 inches. Ellis lettered three years each in track & field, football and baseball. He was named all-district and all-state in track and was an all-conference selection at third base in baseball. The son of Rodney and Jay Dee Standridge, he was the Indians’ starting quarterback for three years in football. Anthony Reed, 5-8, 131, Distance/Cross Country, Carl Junction, Mo. (Carl Junction HS) A three-year letterman in cross country and track and field, this Missouri Southern recruit helped the Bulldogs win back-to-back Big Eight Conference championships in both sports. Reed earned all-state honors in cross country and also was named to all-conference and all-district teams in both cross country and track. The son of Randall and Tammy Reed, he also participated in basketball and soccer. Rutledge has led the Lions to four consecutive MIAA cross country championships and, this past February, guided Southern to its first MIAA men’s track & field championship of any kind, indoors or outdoors, as MSSU hosted the league indoor meet at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.