March 23, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Three track & field Lions collect athlete of the week laurels

Of the four MIAA Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week announced on Tuesday (March 23), three hailed from Missouri Southern State University.

Seniors Mary Still (Carthage, Mo.) and Brian Lyons (Purdy, Mo.), along with junior Mika Alahaivala (Ylivieska, Finland) were tabbed for the conference honor after their performances last week at various meets over the spring break.

Lyons, a 5-foot-9, 140-pound senior from Purdy, Mo., won the 5000 meters and was third in the 1500 at the Texas A&M College Station Relays Saturday (March 20). He just missed a provisional qualifying mark in the 1500 by a little more than one second, clocking in at 3 minutes, 55.17 seconds. His winning time for the 5000 was 15:03.41.

Alahaivala (pronounced ah-lah-HAY-vuh-lah), a 5-foot-8, 200-pound junior from Ylivieska, Finland, secured a spot at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships with his efforts in the javelin at the Texas A&M College Station Relays Saturday (March 20). He was sixth in the event with an automatic qualifying mark of 219 feet, 10 inches. It's the second-best toss in Southern history, behind Alahaivala's school record of 223-7 last season.

Still, a 5-foot-6 senior from Carthage, Mo., automatically qualified for nationals in the 400-meter hurdles with her performance at the Florida State Snowbird Relays last weekend. She was fourth in the Gold Division with a clocking of 58.50 seconds, a half-second faster than the qualifying standard and improving the school record she set last season under her maiden name, Mary Garrett. Still also picked up provisional qualification in the 200 meters (24.71 seconds -- second in the Garnet Division) and was 13th in the Gold Division 100-meter hurdles (15.05). Still, a two-time national runner-up in the 400-meter hurdles (2000, 2003), is a graduate of Carthage High School.