Alahaivala, Hombs named MIAA Athletes of the Week

March 23, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Men’s track seniors collect conference’s weekly honor

Missouri Southern State University student-athletes Mika Alahaivala and Neil Hombs were named Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Men’s Track & Field Athletes of the Week on Tuesday (March 22).

Alahaivala, a 5-foot-8 and 180-pound senior from Ylivieska, Finland, earned the conference’s honor for his efforts in the field events. Competing at the University of Arizona Willie Williams Invitational, Alahaivala recorded the third-best javelin throw in Lions history with his mark of 219 feet, 10 inches. The throw was also an NCAA Division II automatic qualifying mark, giving Alahaivala a berth at the national championships to be held in May in Abilene, Texas.

Hombs, a 6-foot and 160-pound senior from Boonville, Mo., won the 400-meter dash at the Pittsburg State University Open on Thursday (March 17). Hombs finished the event in 49.79 seconds in spite of a strong headwind over half of the event. Hombs won by one-tenth of a second over PSU’s Jeff Unruh.

Alahaivala is a graduate of Ylivieska High School. Hombs is a graduate of Boonville High School and transferred to Southern from Highland (Kan.) Community College.


	March 23, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Alahaivala, Hombs named MIAA Athletes of the Week Men’s track seniors collect conference’s weekly honor Missouri Southern State University student-athletes Mika Alahaivala and Neil Hombs were named Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Men’s Track & Field Athletes of the Week on Tuesday (March 22). Alahaivala, a 5-foot-8 and 180-pound senior from Ylivieska, Finland, earned the conference’s honor for his efforts in the field events. Competing at the University of Arizona Willie Williams Invitational, Alahaivala recorded the third-best javelin throw in Lions history with his mark of 219 feet, 10 inches. The throw was also an NCAA Division II automatic qualifying mark, giving Alahaivala a berth at the national championships to be held in May in Abilene, Texas. Hombs, a 6-foot and 160-pound senior from Boonville, Mo., won the 400-meter dash at the Pittsburg State University Open on Thursday (March 17). Hombs finished the event in 49.79 seconds in spite of a strong headwind over half of the event. Hombs won by one-tenth of a second over PSU’s Jeff Unruh. Alahaivala is a graduate of Ylivieska High School. Hombs is a graduate of Boonville High School and transferred to Southern from Highland (Kan.) Community College.