Four Lions return with All-America honors

Four members of the Missouri Southern State University track & field teams came home with All-America honors after the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships this past weekend in Boston, Mass.

The Lions had six student-athletes compete at the national meet. The Missouri Southern men scored 12 points to finish tied for 15th with Massachusetts-Lowell. Southern’s women ended with nine points and shared 19th place with Chadron State (Neb.), Western State (Colo.) and Hillsdale (Mich.).

Junior Matt Campbell (Worthington, Ind.) finished as national runner-up in the pole vault and became the first Lion to clear 17-feet twice in the same indoor season. Campbell finished with a height of 17’-01.50”, four inches behind winner Mark Zilch of Lewis (Ill.). It marked the first All-America honor at Missouri Southern for Campbell, who was an indoor national runner-up and outdoor national champion in the pole vault while at Neosho County (Kan.) Community College.

In his first NCAA-II Championships appearance, senior Michael Stewart (Kansas City, Mo.) earned his first All-America honor when he finished fifth in the triple jump Saturday in Boston. Stewart beat his own school record by 6.75 inches in the event with a mark of 49’-06.25”.

On the women’s side, two MSSU throwers, one an NCAA Championships veteran and another a rookie, turned in solid showings at the national meet.

The newcomer, freshman Jessica Selby (Galena, Mo.) continued her impressive late-season run in the shot put. After setting the school record en route to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association individual crown, Selby improved on that MSSU standard at the national championships. She threw the shot 46’-06.00” for fourth place in the nation. The throw beat her school mark, set on Feb. 26, by 4.5 inches. Selby’s toss on Feb. 26 was seven inches better than the school record, set in 1999 by Stephanie Wainscott.

The veteran, senior Danee Jones (Clayton, Mo.) made her fourth career NCAA-II Indoor Championships appearance and grabbed her second indoor All-America honor. She finished fifth in the weight throw with a mark of 57’-11.00” and became a three-time All-America at MSSU.

Southern also sent two other male competitors to the national meet. Junior Mike Hines (Miami, Fla.) finished 13th in the shot put (52’-01.75”) and senior Kyle Rutledge (Joplin, Mo.) did not place in the pole vault.

MSSU’s women also had one other qualifier, freshman Alison Walker (West Plains, Mo.) in the 800-meter run. Walker was forced to withdraw prior to the meet due to an injury.

Outdoor season is now upon the Lions, who are scheduled to open on Thursday at Pittsburg State. Southern hosts four outdoor meets this spring, including the MSSU Decathlon/Heptathlon on March 25-26. The largest of the four outdoor events is the MSSU Track & Field Festival, scheduled for April 1-2. All of Southern’s home outdoor meets take place at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.


	March 15, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Four Lions return with All-America honors NCAA-II Indoor Track & Field Championships held in Boston Four members of the Missouri Southern State University track & field teams came home with All-America honors after the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships this past weekend in Boston, Mass. The Lions had six student-athletes compete at the national meet. The Missouri Southern men scored 12 points to finish tied for 15th with Massachusetts-Lowell. Southern’s women ended with nine points and shared 19th place with Chadron State (Neb.), Western State (Colo.) and Hillsdale (Mich.). Junior Matt Campbell (Worthington, Ind.) finished as national runner-up in the pole vault and became the first Lion to clear 17-feet twice in the same indoor season. Campbell finished with a height of 17’-01.50”, four inches behind winner Mark Zilch of Lewis (Ill.). It marked the first All-America honor at Missouri Southern for Campbell, who was an indoor national runner-up and outdoor national champion in the pole vault while at Neosho County (Kan.) Community College. In his first NCAA-II Championships appearance, senior Michael Stewart (Kansas City, Mo.) earned his first All-America honor when he finished fifth in the triple jump Saturday in Boston. Stewart beat his own school record by 6.75 inches in the event with a mark of 49’-06.25”. On the women’s side, two MSSU throwers, one an NCAA Championships veteran and another a rookie, turned in solid showings at the national meet. The newcomer, freshman Jessica Selby (Galena, Mo.) continued her impressive late-season run in the shot put. After setting the school record en route to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association individual crown, Selby improved on that MSSU standard at the national championships. She threw the shot 46’-06.00” for fourth place in the nation. The throw beat her school mark, set on Feb. 26, by 4.5 inches. Selby’s toss on Feb. 26 was seven inches better than the school record, set in 1999 by Stephanie Wainscott. The veteran, senior Danee Jones (Clayton, Mo.) made her fourth career NCAA-II Indoor Championships appearance and grabbed her second indoor All-America honor. She finished fifth in the weight throw with a mark of 57’-11.00” and became a three-time All-America at MSSU. Southern also sent two other male competitors to the national meet. Junior Mike Hines (Miami, Fla.) finished 13th in the shot put (52’-01.75”) and senior Kyle Rutledge (Joplin, Mo.) did not place in the pole vault. MSSU’s women also had one other qualifier, freshman Alison Walker (West Plains, Mo.) in the 800-meter run. Walker was forced to withdraw prior to the meet due to an injury. Outdoor season is now upon the Lions, who are scheduled to open on Thursday at Pittsburg State. Southern hosts four outdoor meets this spring, including the MSSU Decathlon/Heptathlon on March 25-26. The largest of the four outdoor events is the MSSU Track & Field Festival, scheduled for April 1-2. All of Southern’s home outdoor meets take place at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.