FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2009

Lions women pick up second MIAA Outdoor Title in a row

Final Results

Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern women's track and field team claimed its second-straight MIAA Outdoor Track and Field Title and the men finished fourth as the 2009 MIAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships finished up today at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.

The Southern women picked up another nine All-MIAA selections in day two and Kimi Shank won her second title, this time in the 5k, finishing in a time of 17:15.96, narrowly missing the Hughes Stadium record in the event. Courtney Waltbillig finished right behind Shank to pick up All-MIAA honors, while Kara Eckard was sixth in the event to help the Lions secure 21 points in the 5k alone.

Jill Weeks finished third in the Javelin to earn All-MIAA status, while Eckard and Kari Fritchie placed second and third in the 3,000 meter steeplechase and earned All-MIAA honors. The women's 4x400m relay team of Kelly McKay, Danielle Oliver, Shannan Borgard and Carita Riutta placed third, earning All-MIAA honors for each runner. Channell Lloyd was fourth in the 100m hurdles, while Lisa Vengels placed fifth in the high jump. The Lions picked up 10 points in the discus with Erin Steffens, Nicole Green and Cortney Vie placing 4th, 5th and 8th, respectively.

In men's action, Phillip Horn continued his strong meet and placed fourth in the overall individual point standings, just four points out of the lead. He was sixth in the high jump, third in the 110m hurdles, and was part of the men's fifth place 4x400m relay team.

Chris Brown picked up All-MIAA status with a third place finish in the high jump, while Josh Mathis was an All-MIAA pick in the 3,000m steeplechase with a third place finish. John Lowe placed eighth in the finals of the 110m hurdles, while DeAngelo Wood was sixth in the 400m dash. Kevin Wright was fifth in the 400m hurdles, while Brennan Benkert, Mathis and Jarkko Jarvenpaa were 4th, 6th and 11th in the 5,000 meter run.

In all, the Lions men had seven All-MIAA performers and the women had 17. The Southern women defeated Truman by 15 points to earn the team title. Nebraska-Omaha and Central Missouri were third, followed by Pittsburg State, Emporia State, Fort Hays, Northwest Missouri and Southwest Baptist.

Central Missouri won the men's title by 30 points over second place Pittsburg State. Emporia State was third, followed by Missouri Southern, Fort Hays, Southwest Baptist, Northwest Missouri and Truman.

Pittsburg State's Brian Allen was the men's high-point scorer and Central Missouri freshman Darius Walker was the freshman high-point scorer. Central Missouri freshman Lindsay Lettow was the individual and freshman high point scorer on the women's side.

The Lions will next race at the Emporia State last chance meet before finding out which athletes have qualified for the 2009 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships in San Angelo, Texas.