Joplin runner signs with Southern

Nov. 20, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kelly O’Toole heading to MSSU for cross country, track & field

Kelly O’Toole has spent four years at Joplin High School running under the guidance of former Missouri Southern cross country All-America Jason Riddle. Now, O’Toole will continue her cross country and track & field career at Missouri Southern.

O’Toole, a senior at Joplin High, has signed a national letter-of-intent to attend Missouri Southern and participate in cross country and track & field under head coach Patty Vavra.

O’Toole is a three-time state qualifier in cross country, and has finished as high as 28th at the MSHSAA Championships. An all-conference runner, O’Toole’s top 5000-meter cross country time is 18: 58. She has qualified for the state meet in each of the last three years. Her best state cross country showing was a 28th-place finish as a sophomore with a time of 20:38.80 over the 5000-meter course.

O’Toole also qualified for the state championships as a freshman and again as a sophomore in the 3200-meter run in track & field. She holds school records in both the 1600-meter run (5:22) and 3200-meter run (11:24).

Two of O’Toole’s family members have experienced professional athletics. A grandfather, Virgil Brown, was a pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1936 and an uncle, Branson Brown, played with the New York Yankees in 1963.

The daughter of Martin and Joy O’Toole, she has won three letters in track and four in cross country while at JHS and has earned all-conference accolades in both sports. O’Toole has not decided on a field of study for college.


	Nov. 20, 2003 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Joplin runner signs with Southern Kelly O’Toole heading to MSSU for cross country, track & field Kelly O’Toole has spent four years at Joplin High School running under the guidance of former Missouri Southern cross country All-America Jason Riddle. Now, O’Toole will continue her cross country and track & field career at Missouri Southern. O’Toole, a senior at Joplin High, has signed a national letter-of-intent to attend Missouri Southern and participate in cross country and track & field under head coach Patty Vavra. O’Toole is a three-time state qualifier in cross country, and has finished as high as 28th at the MSHSAA Championships. An all-conference runner, O’Toole’s top 5000-meter cross country time is 18: 58. She has qualified for the state meet in each of the last three years. Her best state cross country showing was a 28th-place finish as a sophomore with a time of 20:38.80 over the 5000-meter course. O’Toole also qualified for the state championships as a freshman and again as a sophomore in the 3200-meter run in track & field. She holds school records in both the 1600-meter run (5:22) and 3200-meter run (11:24). Two of O’Toole’s family members have experienced professional athletics. A grandfather, Virgil Brown, was a pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1936 and an uncle, Branson Brown, played with the New York Yankees in 1963. The daughter of Martin and Joy O’Toole, she has won three letters in track and four in cross country while at JHS and has earned all-conference accolades in both sports. O’Toole has not decided on a field of study for college.