Track & field teams open indoor season on Friday

Missouri Southern State University’s indoor track & field season kicks off on Friday, as the Lions squads head to Fayetteville, Ark. for the University of Arkansas Invitational.

Head coach Tom Rutledge, now in his 15th year as Southern’s head men’s track & field coach, has nine returning indoor all-conference athletes back from the 2003 season. Among them are four returning All-America performers, including two from previous indoor campaigns. Arley Smith was an All-America indoors in 2002 as he placed second in the shot put. Smith is the first Missouri Southern athlete to top the 60-foot plateau in the weight throw, as he won the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association crown in 2003 with a school-record heave of 61’-4.75”.

Last year, the MSSU men placed third at the MIAA Indoor Championships. This year’s squad includes 12 new faces, but the Lions should be experienced in the distance events as well as the throws and pole vault, although national champion vaulter Seth Isringhausen will be missed.

Patty Vavra is in her 10th year as the women’s track & field coach at Southern and she has 10 indoor All-MIAA athletes from last season back in the fold for 2004. The Lions’ have two returning All-Americans on the squad this year, including Mary Still (formerly Mary Garrett) and Danee Jones. Last year, Still placed seventh nationally in the indoor 400-meter dash before going on to national runner-up status outdoors in the 400-meter hurdles. Jones placed third at the indoor national championships in the weight throw after re-writing the Lion record books in the event.

Both Jones and Still were 2003 MIAA champions in their respective events (weight throw and 400 meters). Vavra has brought in 11 newcomers this season, but all of the key components from last year’s squad are back in 2004, as Southern seeks to improve on its sixth-place conference finish. MSSU should be strong in the distance races after its first ever team appearance at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships last fall.

Missouri Southern has three home meets on its schedule for this season, including the 2004 MIAA Indoor Championships, which will be held Feb. 27-28 in the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. Southern’s first home meet, the MSSU/Radio Shack Invitational, is set for Jan. 23-24. The Lions will also host the Baymont Inn/Fazoli’s Open in February. That’s a three-day meet with the final day devoted strictly to high school entrants.


	Jan. 15, 2003 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Track & field teams open indoor season on Friday Lions head to the University of Arkansas Missouri Southern State University’s indoor track & field season kicks off on Friday, as the Lions squads head to Fayetteville, Ark. for the University of Arkansas Invitational. Head coach Tom Rutledge, now in his 15th year as Southern’s head men’s track & field coach, has nine returning indoor all-conference athletes back from the 2003 season. Among them are four returning All-America performers, including two from previous indoor campaigns. Arley Smith was an All-America indoors in 2002 as he placed second in the shot put. Smith is the first Missouri Southern athlete to top the 60-foot plateau in the weight throw, as he won the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association crown in 2003 with a school-record heave of 61’-4.75”. Last year, the MSSU men placed third at the MIAA Indoor Championships. This year’s squad includes 12 new faces, but the Lions should be experienced in the distance events as well as the throws and pole vault, although national champion vaulter Seth Isringhausen will be missed. Patty Vavra is in her 10th year as the women’s track & field coach at Southern and she has 10 indoor All-MIAA athletes from last season back in the fold for 2004. The Lions’ have two returning All-Americans on the squad this year, including Mary Still (formerly Mary Garrett) and Danee Jones. Last year, Still placed seventh nationally in the indoor 400-meter dash before going on to national runner-up status outdoors in the 400-meter hurdles. Jones placed third at the indoor national championships in the weight throw after re-writing the Lion record books in the event. Both Jones and Still were 2003 MIAA champions in their respective events (weight throw and 400 meters). Vavra has brought in 11 newcomers this season, but all of the key components from last year’s squad are back in 2004, as Southern seeks to improve on its sixth-place conference finish. MSSU should be strong in the distance races after its first ever team appearance at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships last fall. Missouri Southern has three home meets on its schedule for this season, including the 2004 MIAA Indoor Championships, which will be held Feb. 27-28 in the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. Southern’s first home meet, the MSSU/Radio Shack Invitational, is set for Jan. 23-24. The Lions will also host the Baymont Inn/Fazoli’s Open in February. That’s a three-day meet with the final day devoted strictly to high school entrants.