FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2008

Nummela/Selby-Tallman named MIAA Athletes of the Week

Kansas City, Mo. -- Missouri Southern track and field athletes Aki Nummela (Helsinki, Finland) and Jessica Selby-Tallman (Galena, Mo.) have been named the MIAA Men's and Women's' Track and Field Athletes of the Week today as announced by the league office.

Nummela, a 5-9 distance runner, broke a 14 year old school record in the 1,500 meter when he raced to a 3:50.13 provisional time at Arkansas this weekend. The previous record of 3:50.68 was held by Jason Riddle set in 1994. Nummela was the second Division II finisher in a race that featured three professional, eight Big 12 and six SEC athletes racing.

Selby-Tallman, a 5-8 thrower, broke her previous school record of 185-00.50 that she set last season at the MIAA Championships when she launched the hammer 187 feet, seven inches to finish second in the event at Central Missouri last Friday. She was the top collegiate performer in the event and earned an automatic qualifying mark to nationals. She took the title in the shot put, as well, with a provisional distance of 47 feet, six and a half inches.

The Lions will be back in action this Friday, playing host to the Bill Williams/Bob Laptad Invitational at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.