FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 18, 2008

Track and Field teams sign six athletes

Joplin, Mo. -- Both the Missouri Southern men's and women's indoor track and field teams have brought in six more athletes, three on each team, to participate in track and field beginning in the fall of 2008.

On the women's side, head coach Patty Vavra has announced the additions of Lisa Vengels of Dixon, Mo., Allyson Benkert of St. Clair, Mo. and Amanda Miller of Pierce City, Mo.

Vengels is a 6'2 high jumper/hurdler from Dixon High School. Vengles was the Missouri State Champion in 2006 in the high jump as a sophomore and followed that up with a state championship in the 100m hurdles, as well as a runner up finish in the high jump in 2007. A three-time All-Conference and All-District selection, Vengels has been an All-State pick the past two seasons. She holds school records in the high jump (5-8), 100m hurdles (15.82) and 300m hurdles (48.34). She was also a three year starter on the basketball team, as well as a four-year starter on the volleyball team. The daughter of Richard Vengels and Kathleen Balke, Vengels plans on majoring in accounting at Southern.

Benkert is a 5'7 distance runner from St. Clair High School. She is the sister of current Lion, Brennan Benkert, a distance runner on the men's team. Benkert has been a four-year performer on both the track and cross country teams, running for her father, Charles in cross country, and coach John Fortney on the track side. Benkert helped set the school record in the 4x800m when the team clocked a 9:46 mark in 2006 to finish fourth in the state.

On the cross country side, Benkert has been part of two conference and district championship teams and helped the team to a third place finish at the state meet in 2004 and a fourth place finish in 2005. She is the daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Benkert and plans on majoring in health promotion and wellness at Southern.

Miller is a 5'4 pole vaulter from Pierce City High School. A state qualifier in four different events every year she's participated at Pierce City, she was part of a district championship team in 2005 and has helped Pierce City to the conference title every year she's been part of the team. Qualifying in the pole vault, 4x100, 4x200 and the 300m hurdles, Miller finished fifth in the pole vault twice at state, and eighth once. She has helped the 4x100m team to two fifth place finishes at the state meet, as well as a fifth place finish in the 4x200m.

Also a letter winner in basketball and softball, Miller is the daughter of Dan and Pat Miller and plans on majoring in nursing at Southern.

On the men's side coach Tom Rutledge has announced the signing of Tyler Burgess of Joplin High School, Shawn Goebel of Washington High School and Jacob Crocker of Lebanon High School.

Burgess is a thrower from Joplin High School where he also lettered in football for the Eagles. Burgess competed in the shot put where he placed third in last year s Ozark Conference meet and second in the Class 4 district meet.He also plans to throw the hammer and weight for the Lions. The son of Jeff and Carolyn Burgess, he is undecided on his future major at Southern.

Goebel is a 5'9 distance runner from Washington High School in Washington, Mo. He won the 2007 conference title in cross country this past season and finished seventh at both the district and sectional meets. He has the second fastest cross country time ever at his school, completing the course in 16:24. The son of Perry and Diane Goebel, he plans on majoring in business at Southern.

Crocker is a 5'10 distance runner from Lebanon High School where he earned four letters in cross country and track for the Yellow Jackets. An All-Conference selection three times, he was also an All-District selection in cross country. On the track, he was an All-Conference and All-District selection, while winning Academic All-Conference honors. The son of Jack and Melani Crocker, he plans on majoring in biology at Southern.

The Lions will be back in action this Friday when the teams travel to Warrensburg for the Central Missouri Invite.