Eleven Lions heading to nationals

Eleven members of the Missouri Southern State University track & field teams have more action ahead of them, as they have qualified for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships, set for May 26-28 in Abilene, Texas.

Missouri Southern’s men will be well represented at the national championships, having qualified the most student-athletes of any Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association school. Southern will be sending six performers in five events to the NCAA-II meet. The Lion women have five student-athletes heading to the national meet in six events.

As shown all season in the national rankings, the Southern men will have solid representation in the pole vault, with three qualifiers and a fourth on a “contingency list.” Junior Matt Campbell (Worthington, Ind./Neosho CC) is ranked third in the nation with his school record mark of 17’-1.5”. Campbell has qualified for the NCAA-II outdoor meet for the second straight year. He was indoor national runner-up in the pole vault this past March.

Senior Chris Turner (St. Louis, Mo./Clayton) is only a half inch behind Campbell in the event, ranking fourth, and looks for his third career All-America honor but his first in the outdoor season since 2002. Senior Kyle Rutledge (Joplin, Mo.), an indoor All-America in the pole vault in 2003, comes in at No. 7 overall with a mark of 16’-9.25”.

Freshman Russell Ellis (Caddo Gap, Ark./Caddo Hills) is on the contingency list in the event, ranking 17th. Should a higher ranked competitor turn up injured before the meet, Ellis could get a spot, albeit late.

Turner is the only Lion to qualify in multiple events. In fact, Turner figures to compete in many events. He’s also a national qualifier in the decathlon with his MIAA winning total of 6689 points that ranks 11th in Division II.

Senior Mika Alahaivala (Ylivieska, Finland) is no stranger to the national meet. He’s made it for the fourth year in a row in the javelin, and he comes in this year ranked second in the nation with a mark of 220’-10.5”. Alahaivala, twice an All-America, was national runner-up in the javelin in 2003.

Senior Michael Stewart (Kansas City, Mo./Bishop Miege) is 11th nationally in the triple jump and will compete in his first NCAA-II Outdoor Championships. An All-America with a fifth-place finish during the indoor season in the event, Turner’s season best this year is 48’-8.75”.

Junior Mike Hines (Miami, Fla./Neosho CC), an indoor national qualifier this past March, also has a berth in the outdoor championships. Hines ranks sixth overall in the shot put with a mark of 56’-6.75”.

The Southern women’s contingent is highlighted by three-time outdoor national qualifier Danee Jones (Clayton, Mo.), who has qualified in three throws for the third straight year. Jones ranks third nationally in the discus (167’-0.5”), eighth in the hammer (178’-11.5”) and 19th in the shot put (45’-6.5”). Jones, seeking her fourth career All-America honor, placed fifth nationally last year in the discus.

Another MSSU thrower, this one a freshman, is heading to the national scene for the second time in 2005. Jessica Selby (Galena, Mo./Reeds Spring) has qualified in the shot put with her 12th-place national ranking and a school record throw of 46’-8.75”. Selby earned All-America accolades in March by placing fourth at the NCAA-II indoor meet.

Senior Ashley Caffey (Lebanon, Mo.) makes a second straight NCAA-II outdoor appearance in the 3000-meter run. She ranks 12th this season with a school record time of 9: 57.42.

Junior Erin Click (West Plains, Mo.) makes her first appearance at a track & field national meet as she ranks 13th this year in the 1500-meter run with a time of 4: 37.90.

Freshman Whitney Metcalf (Pawhuska, Okla.) followed the trail blazed by former All-American Mary Still in the 400-meter hurdles. Metcalf comes into the national meet ranked 13th in the event with a time of 61.21 seconds.


	May 17, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Eleven Lions heading to nationals Southern men lead MIAA in qualifiers Eleven members of the Missouri Southern State University track & field teams have more action ahead of them, as they have qualified for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships, set for May 26-28 in Abilene, Texas. Missouri Southern’s men will be well represented at the national championships, having qualified the most student-athletes of any Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association school. Southern will be sending six performers in five events to the NCAA-II meet. The Lion women have five student-athletes heading to the national meet in six events. As shown all season in the national rankings, the Southern men will have solid representation in the pole vault, with three qualifiers and a fourth on a “contingency list.” Junior Matt Campbell (Worthington, Ind./Neosho CC) is ranked third in the nation with his school record mark of 17’-1.5”. Campbell has qualified for the NCAA-II outdoor meet for the second straight year. He was indoor national runner-up in the pole vault this past March. Senior Chris Turner (St. Louis, Mo./Clayton) is only a half inch behind Campbell in the event, ranking fourth, and looks for his third career All-America honor but his first in the outdoor season since 2002. Senior Kyle Rutledge (Joplin, Mo.), an indoor All-America in the pole vault in 2003, comes in at No. 7 overall with a mark of 16’-9.25”. Freshman Russell Ellis (Caddo Gap, Ark./Caddo Hills) is on the contingency list in the event, ranking 17th. Should a higher ranked competitor turn up injured before the meet, Ellis could get a spot, albeit late. Turner is the only Lion to qualify in multiple events. In fact, Turner figures to compete in many events. He’s also a national qualifier in the decathlon with his MIAA winning total of 6689 points that ranks 11th in Division II. Senior Mika Alahaivala (Ylivieska, Finland) is no stranger to the national meet. He’s made it for the fourth year in a row in the javelin, and he comes in this year ranked second in the nation with a mark of 220’-10.5”. Alahaivala, twice an All-America, was national runner-up in the javelin in 2003. Senior Michael Stewart (Kansas City, Mo./Bishop Miege) is 11th nationally in the triple jump and will compete in his first NCAA-II Outdoor Championships. An All-America with a fifth-place finish during the indoor season in the event, Turner’s season best this year is 48’-8.75”. Junior Mike Hines (Miami, Fla./Neosho CC), an indoor national qualifier this past March, also has a berth in the outdoor championships. Hines ranks sixth overall in the shot put with a mark of 56’-6.75”. The Southern women’s contingent is highlighted by three-time outdoor national qualifier Danee Jones (Clayton, Mo.), who has qualified in three throws for the third straight year. Jones ranks third nationally in the discus (167’-0.5”), eighth in the hammer (178’-11.5”) and 19th in the shot put (45’-6.5”). Jones, seeking her fourth career All-America honor, placed fifth nationally last year in the discus. Another MSSU thrower, this one a freshman, is heading to the national scene for the second time in 2005. Jessica Selby (Galena, Mo./Reeds Spring) has qualified in the shot put with her 12th-place national ranking and a school record throw of 46’-8.75”. Selby earned All-America accolades in March by placing fourth at the NCAA-II indoor meet. Senior Ashley Caffey (Lebanon, Mo.) makes a second straight NCAA-II outdoor appearance in the 3000-meter run. She ranks 12th this season with a school record time of 9: 57.42. Junior Erin Click (West Plains, Mo.) makes her first appearance at a track & field national meet as she ranks 13th this year in the 1500-meter run with a time of 4: 37.90. Freshman Whitney Metcalf (Pawhuska, Okla.) followed the trail blazed by former All-American Mary Still in the 400-meter hurdles. Metcalf comes into the national meet ranked 13th in the event with a time of 61.21 seconds.