FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2009

Lipsey hits AQ and breaks school record in the pole vault

Complete Results

Joplin, Mo. - Junior pole vaulter Ciara Lipsey broke her own school record in the pole vault by six inches and automatically qualified in the event to highlight the 2009 Bob Laptad/Bill Williams Invitational today at Fred G. Hughes Stadium in Joplin.

Lipsey finished seventh in the event, but was the top division II athlete with a height of 12 feet, 11 and a half inches. Already carting the top vault in the MIAA outdoor season, Lipsey improved on that mark and now has the second-highest vault in division II this season.

Jill Weeks was one of four event winners for the women, taking the title in the javelin with a heave of 138 feet, seven inches. Lisa Vengels was sixth in the event. Emilie Mieseler came two feet from a personal best, winning the hammer throw with a distance of 170 feet, seven inches. Cortney Vie was third in the event with a provisional distance of 164 feet, eight inches. Vie picked up a provisional in the shot put, placing third with distance of 43-11.25, while Steffens had a provisional to finish fourth and was followed by Nicole Green and Mieseler at fifth and sixth. Vie and Green were third and 11th in the discus.

Channell Lloyd picked up provisionals in the 100m hurdles and the triple jump, placing second in each event. Cyara Prince was third in the hurdles and fifth in the triple jump and placed fourth in the long jump. Kimi Shank won the 1,500m, while Kari Fritchie finished seventh. Courtney Waltbillig, Ashley Bunch and Olga Bulgarova placed first, second and seventh in the 3k, while Carita Riutta, Shannan Borgard and Kelly McKay finished second, third and eighth in the 400m. Caitlin Wilkinson was sixth in the 800m, while Danielle Oliver, Tia Cook and Alex Close were fourth, seventh and 14th in the 200m.

In men's action, Dustin Dixon and Phillip Horn took home the titles in the 5k and 110m hurdles, respectively. Kevin Wright was second in the 400m hurdles, while Andrew Wright, Kevin Wright and Michael LaCurtis finished 9th, 15th and 25th in the 200m dash. Seth Hackney, Kyle Hancock and Phillip Horn placed second, fifth and 11th in the shot put. Hackney's toss of 54-02.75 was a provisional distance in the event.

Hancock was sixth in the hammer, while Josh Mathis and Derek Wright placed sixth and 26th in the 1,500m. Taylor McClelland and Nicco Mendes placed fifth and eighth in the long jump while Mendes and McClelland reversed the order, placing second and third in the triple jump. Chris Brown placed fourth in the high jump.

The Lions will head to the 2009 MIAA Heptathlon/Decathlon Championships in Maryville on Sunday and Monday and then the entire team will be back home next week, playing host to the 2009 MIAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.