FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2009

Shank/Horn Qualify for 2009 Indoor Nationals

Fayetteville, Ark. -- Missouri Southern's Kimi Shank and Philip Horn both won their respective events and qualified for indoor nationals yesterday and today at the Arkansas Razorback Invitational in the Tyson Center on the campus of the University of Arkansas.

Shank won the 5,000 meters by 48 seconds and picked up an automatic qualifying time, finishing in 17:02.00. Horn was fourth after the first day of the heptathlon, but enjoyed a stellar day today, finishing second in both the 60m hurdles and pole vault and placing sixth in the 1,000 meter run. Horn collected 5,107 points to take home the title and qualify for nationals.

In day one of the Invite, Courtney Waltbillig was fourth in the 5,000 meters, finishing with a time of 18:05.02. Jarkko Jarvenpaa led a 2, 3, 7, 8 finish in the men's 5k placing second, followed by Dustin Dixon, Brennan Benkert and Josh Mathis. Seager Wilson improved his provisional height in the pole vault, placing fourth with a height of 15 feet, nine inches. Corey Shumate placed seventh at 15 feet, three inches. Seth Hackney and Kyle Hancock placed second and fourth, respectively in the shot put.

Dawson Urrutia placed 13th in the long jump, followed by Taylor McClelland and Nicco Mendes at 19th and 23rd. Kyle Hancock placed seventh in the weight throw, while Lisa Vengels was ninth in the high jump and seventh in the pentathlon. Emilie Mieseler and Cortney Vie were 12th and 13th in the weight throw, with Nichole Green placing 19th in the event.

In today's action on the women's side, Shannan Borgard nearly missed a provisional in the 800 meters when she won the event with a time of 2:17.63. Kaitlin Wilkinson was 16th in the race, as well. Ciara Lipsey just missed a provisional in the pole vault with a height of 11 feet five and three quarter inches. Kara Eckard was sixth in the mile run, while Olga Bulgarova and Silvia Pineda placed 17th and 19th, respectively. Ashley Bunch and Kari Fritchie were 6th and 12th, respectively in the 3,000 meter run.

On the men's side, Aki Nummela placed third in the mile run with a time of 4:14.85, while Derek Wright finished 12th in the 800 meter dash with a time of 1:56.71. Chris Bell finished 14th in the 3,000 meter run with a time of 8:57.06.

The Lions will be off this week in preparation for playing hosts to the 2009 MSSU Radio Shack Invitational on February 6-7.