FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2009

Shank/Nummela break school records

Joplin, Mo. -- Kimi Shank broke her own 5k record and Aki Nummela broke the record in the mile as the Missouri Southern men's and women's track and field teams competed at the Arkansas Tyson Invitational and the Pittsburg State Invitational this weekend.

Shank continued her streak of breaking the 5k record each time out, this time placing fourth in the championship 5k run at the Tyson Invitational. She ran a 17:01.12 and improved on her automatic qualifying time in the event. Courtney Waltbillig, competing in the open 5k, scored a personal best and a provisional time, placing seventh at 17:51.72. Kara Eckard secured a provisional with a 5:04.81 in the mile, while Ciara Lipsey vaulted to a height of 11 feet, seven and three quarter inches.

In men's action at the Tyson, Nummela placed 11th in the mile run and broke a school record with a time of 4:11.76, earning a provisional. The record had stood for 13 years. Jarkko Jarvenpaa placed seventh in the men's 5k championship with a time of 14:59.54, while Seth Hackney was fifth in the shot put with a distance of 51 feet, seven inches. Kyle Hancock was tenth in the event. Chris Brown earned a provisional in the high jump with a height of six feet, nine inches that placed him 11th in the event.

Seager Wilson, Corey Shumate and Phillip Horn placed 17th, 20th and 22nd in the pole vault. Horn was 27th in the long jump and Derek Wright placed 20th in the 800m.

In action at Pittsburg State, the Lions' Nicole Green won the shot put with a provisional distance of 45 feet, two and a half inches, while Emilie Mieseler picked up a win and a provisional in the weight throw with a distance of 54 feet, seven and a quarter inches. Danielle Oliver was third in the 55 meters, while Channell Lloyd was fourth in the hurdles. Lisa Vengels placed second in the high jump, while Lloyd and Gayla Booth tied for fifth.

Booth and Cyarra Prince were fifth and sixth in the long jump, while Vengels placed eighth. Lloyd and Prince were third and fourth in the triple jump.

The Lions will be back in action this Saturday, Feb. 21 when they play host to a seven-team event at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.