FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2008

Jacob Williams vaults to nation's best height at Prairie Wolf Invite

Warrensburg, Mo./Licnoln Neb. -- Missouri Southern senior pole vaulter Jacob Williams topped 17 feet for the first time in his Southern career, when he hit 17 feet, one inch at the Prairie Wolf Invitational tonight hosted by Nebraska Wesleyan University.

A contingent of sprinters, distance runners, jumpers and vaulters traveled to Lincoln today to compete in the event, while the rest of the Lions went to Warrensburg to compete in the Central Missouri Classic.

Williams' jump is tops in Division II this season, besting the previous high of 16 feet, seven and a quarter inches. It is the highest vault by a Southern athlete since Matt Campbell hit 17 feet, one and a half inches at the 2005 NCAA Indoor Championships. It is just three quarters of an inch off of Campbell's school record of 17 feet, one and three quarters of an inch.

Williams finished third in the event, but his height was tied for the highest of the night. He finished behind only his coach, Kyle Rutledge, and Nebraska's Seth Burney. Russell Ellis, Seager Wilson and Corey Shumate finished fifth, sixth and seventh in the event. Corey Reynolds finished second in the high jump with a height of six foot, eight and three quarters (2.05m). Aki Nummela finished sixth in the mile run with a time of 4:21.40, while Jordan Patton was sixth in the 200m with a time of 22.48 and Jarko Jarvenpaa was seventh in the 3k (8:55.63).

In women's action in Lincoln, Erica Culver and Ciara Lipsey both vaulted to a provisional height of 11 feet, seven and three quarter inches to finish second and third in the event.

At Central Missouri, Allison Walker picked up the title in the 800m with a provisional time of 2:18.26. Shannan Borgard and Olga Bulgarova finished 8th and 10th in the 800m. Kate Brittan finished third in the mile, while Kari Fritchie and Kelly O'Toole were 7th and 11th, respectively in the event. Stacy Borgard finished second in the 600m, while Kayla Piley was sixth in the 60m hurdles. Jessie Wood and Piley were eighth and ninth in the high jump, while Piley finished fifth in the long jump followed by Jestine Hayes at seventh. Hayes finished sixth in the triple jump.

Jessica Selby-Tallman finished third in the shot put, but was the top Division II finisher at 49 feet, 11 inches. Jessica Self was seventh, while Courtney Vie and Emilie Mieseler finished 10th and 11th. Selby-Tallman and Self finished fifth and sixth in the weight throw, while Vie and Mieseler were eighth and ninth. Amanda Littlefield was 14th.

Eric Bearden finished eighth in the shot put with a distance of 46 feet, 11 and three quarter inches, while Adam Sims was 20th. John Isenman was 11th in the weight throw with a distance of 53 feet, one and a half inches.

The Lions will now head back home and prepare for the 2008 MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships held on February 29 and March 1 at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center in Joplin. The men are the defending champs, while the Southern women finished fourth at last year's meet.