FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2007

Southern adds three more athletes to list of recruits

Joplin, Mo. -- Missouri Southern track and field coach Tom Rutledge has announced that Kevin Denny, Andrew Shockley and Luke Willadsen have all committed to participating in track at Missouri Southern beginning in the fall of 2007.

Denny, a 5'11 distance runner, is from Lee's Summit, Mo. where he ran for coach Kris Solsberg at Lee's Summit North High School. Also a soccer player at North, Denny was all-conference, all-district, and all-sectional as a cross country runner. His track team won conference and district championships the past two years with his final season yet to be finished.

This past year, the Broncos' cross country team won the conference, district, and sectional championships, as well as finishing sixth in the Missouri class 4 state meet. Denny's father was a cross country and track athlete at the University of Central Missouri and his sister, Kelli, is a current track and cross country athlete at the University of Tulsa.

"I feel that Kevin will add to our distance strength," Rutledge said . "He's a quality runner and will fit in well with our program. He's been one of the best athletes in the state for some time and I'm pleased to add him."

Shockley is a 6'2 sprinter from Excelsior Springs, Mo. where he ran for coach Carl Abele at Excelsior Springs High School. Shockley was an all-conference, all-district, and all-sectional athlete in the 200m and the 4x200 relay. A state qualifier, Shockley lettered all four years at Excelsior Springs.

"Andrew has pretty good speed already," Rutledge said. "I think he can only get better and will really add depth to our 400's and our mile relay team."

Willadsen is a 6'0 pole vaulter also from Excelsior Springs High School. A four-year letter winner for coach Abele, Willadsen holds the school record in the vault with his mark of 14 feet. A conference champion last season, Willadsen was all-conference as a sophomore, as well. He also participated in soccer and football at Excelsior Springs.

"We hope to bring Luke in and improve to his natural ability and help bring him to the next level," Rutledge said. "I think he can fit in well with our already strong vaulter corps and help keep up our dominance.

"I think our recruiting class, as a whole, is so far so good," Rutledge said. "We only lose two athletes this year, but with the depth we'll add with these young men, that with the help of our returning veterans, should keep us on top."