Cross country/track teams earn academic honors

Seven members of the Missouri Southern State University cross country team were named to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll, the league announced recently.

From the Missouri Southern men’s team, senior Magnus Holmstrom and junior Joel Standeford received the honor. Five from the women’s squad also were named to the list, including seniors Rachel McGowan and Jen Noelken, junior Ashley Caffey, and sophomores Michelle Brennner and Erin Click.

Holmstrom (Inga, Finland/Karis Billnas HS), a key player in the Lions’ run of four consecutive MIAA championships, maintains a 3.647 GPA as a physical education major. This year, Holmstrom collected his fourth straight all-conference honor as he placed fourth at the MIAA Championships last month in Kirksville, Mo. Standeford (Seneca, Mo.), a business major who balances cross country with his own landscaping operation, has a 3.016 GPA.

McGowan (Raytown, Mo./Raytown South HS) and Noelken (St. Charles, Mo./Duchesne HS) are the only two seniors on the Missouri Southern women’s team that will make the program’s first ever team appearance at the NCAA Division II Championships next week.

Noelken, an English major with a 3.010 GPA, has been Southern’s top runner in five of six meets this year, and earned all-conference and all-region honors with third- and fourth-place finishes, respectively.

McGowan, formerly Rachel Patterson, has been among the Lions’ top four runners all season. She placed 14th at the MIAA meet and 17th at last week’s regional in Commerce, Texas. McGowan holds a perfect 4.0 GPA as an elementary/special education major.

Caffey (Lebanon, Mo.) is a 3.217 communications student. She earned All-MIAA honors with a fifth-place conference finish and was all-region with an eighth-place showing last weekend. She has been the Lions’ No. 2 runner in each of the last four meets.

Brenner (Coffeyville, Kan.), an accounting major, carries a 3.689 GPA. She placed 41st at the MIAA Championships last month and has competed in two meets during the 2003 campaign.

Click (West Plains, Mo.) had her best finish of the year last week at the South Central Regional, placing 27th as MSSU’s No. 5 runner. She carries a 3.267 GPA as a biology major.

The Missouri Southern men’s cross country team is ranked No. 21 in the nation, while the Lion women are 25th in the latest national poll.

Both teams will be in action on Nov. 22 at the NCAA Division II Championships in Raleigh, N.C.

2003 USTCA All-Academic Team

The Missouri Southern women’s track & field team was among 29 NCAA Division II schools listed on the 2003 United States Track Coaches Association All-Academic Team that was recently unveiled.

Missouri Southern’s women posted a 3.291 GPA to rank 12th on the listing of schools with at least a 3.0 GPA.

Additionally two members of the MSSU women’s team were listed among the many individuals.

Senior Mary Still (Carthage, Mo.), formerly Mary Garrett, holds a 3.977 GPA as a psychology and English major. She was an All-America in both the indoor and outdoor seasons in 2003. Still finished as national runner-up outdoors in the 400-meter hurdles and was seventh indoors in the 400-meter dash.

Junior Melissa Turner (Claremore, Okla.) was also listed with her 3.532 GPA as a health promotion & Wellness major. Turner set school pole vault records both indoors (11’-2.5”) and outdoors (11’-6”) last year and earned an outdoor NCAA provisional standard with a mark of 11’-3”.

Four members of Southern’s men’s squad also received mention on the all-academic list. Then-senior Jamie Tallman (Neodesha, Kan.), a national qualifier last year in the hammer throw, was listed sixth with a 3.872 GPA in computer science.

Junior Mika Alahaivala (Ylivieska, Finland), the 2003 national runner-up in the javelin, maintains a 3.714 GPA in international business.

Holmstrom was also listed with his 3.647 GPA in physical education. He was seventh last year at the NCAA Division II outdoor meet in the 3000-meter steeplechase.

Brian Lyons (Purdy, Mo.), who had Division II provisional marks last year in the 1500 and 5000 meters, was also on the all-academic team with his 3.370 GPA in biology.


	Nov. 12, 2003 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cross country/track teams earn academic honors USTCA All-Academic Team, MIAA Commissioner’s Honor Roll announced Seven members of the Missouri Southern State University cross country team were named to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll, the league announced recently. From the Missouri Southern men’s team, senior Magnus Holmstrom and junior Joel Standeford received the honor. Five from the women’s squad also were named to the list, including seniors Rachel McGowan and Jen Noelken, junior Ashley Caffey, and sophomores Michelle Brennner and Erin Click. Holmstrom (Inga, Finland/Karis Billnas HS), a key player in the Lions’ run of four consecutive MIAA championships, maintains a 3.647 GPA as a physical education major. This year, Holmstrom collected his fourth straight all-conference honor as he placed fourth at the MIAA Championships last month in Kirksville, Mo. Standeford (Seneca, Mo.), a business major who balances cross country with his own landscaping operation, has a 3.016 GPA. McGowan (Raytown, Mo./Raytown South HS) and Noelken (St. Charles, Mo./Duchesne HS) are the only two seniors on the Missouri Southern women’s team that will make the program’s first ever team appearance at the NCAA Division II Championships next week. Noelken, an English major with a 3.010 GPA, has been Southern’s top runner in five of six meets this year, and earned all-conference and all-region honors with third- and fourth-place finishes, respectively. McGowan, formerly Rachel Patterson, has been among the Lions’ top four runners all season. She placed 14th at the MIAA meet and 17th at last week’s regional in Commerce, Texas. McGowan holds a perfect 4.0 GPA as an elementary/special education major. Caffey (Lebanon, Mo.) is a 3.217 communications student. She earned All-MIAA honors with a fifth-place conference finish and was all-region with an eighth-place showing last weekend. She has been the Lions’ No. 2 runner in each of the last four meets. Brenner (Coffeyville, Kan.), an accounting major, carries a 3.689 GPA. She placed 41st at the MIAA Championships last month and has competed in two meets during the 2003 campaign. Click (West Plains, Mo.) had her best finish of the year last week at the South Central Regional, placing 27th as MSSU’s No. 5 runner. She carries a 3.267 GPA as a biology major. The Missouri Southern men’s cross country team is ranked No. 21 in the nation, while the Lion women are 25th in the latest national poll. Both teams will be in action on Nov. 22 at the NCAA Division II Championships in Raleigh, N.C. 2003 USTCA All-Academic Team The Missouri Southern women’s track & field team was among 29 NCAA Division II schools listed on the 2003 United States Track Coaches Association All-Academic Team that was recently unveiled. Missouri Southern’s women posted a 3.291 GPA to rank 12th on the listing of schools with at least a 3.0 GPA. Additionally two members of the MSSU women’s team were listed among the many individuals. Senior Mary Still (Carthage, Mo.), formerly Mary Garrett, holds a 3.977 GPA as a psychology and English major. She was an All-America in both the indoor and outdoor seasons in 2003. Still finished as national runner-up outdoors in the 400-meter hurdles and was seventh indoors in the 400-meter dash. Junior Melissa Turner (Claremore, Okla.) was also listed with her 3.532 GPA as a health promotion & Wellness major. Turner set school pole vault records both indoors (11’-2.5”) and outdoors (11’-6”) last year and earned an outdoor NCAA provisional standard with a mark of 11’-3”. Four members of Southern’s men’s squad also received mention on the all-academic list. Then-senior Jamie Tallman (Neodesha, Kan.), a national qualifier last year in the hammer throw, was listed sixth with a 3.872 GPA in computer science. Junior Mika Alahaivala (Ylivieska, Finland), the 2003 national runner-up in the javelin, maintains a 3.714 GPA in international business. Holmstrom was also listed with his 3.647 GPA in physical education. He was seventh last year at the NCAA Division II outdoor meet in the 3000-meter steeplechase. Brian Lyons (Purdy, Mo.), who had Division II provisional marks last year in the 1500 and 5000 meters, was also on the all-academic team with his 3.370 GPA in biology.