FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 27, 2007

Selby earns automatic qualifying distance in shot put in successful day two of Fazolis/Baymont Inn MSSU Open Invite

Complete Results
Joplin, Mo. -- Jessica Selby (Galena, Mo.) broke her own school record with a shot put of 49 feet, three inches, and more importantly qualified for the NCAA National Meet, as the Missouri Southern Indoor Track Team had a successful final day to the Fazolis/Baymont Inn MSSU Open Invite.

Selby finished second in the shot put to Tulsa's Stephanie Jeffers who threw a distance of 49 feet six and one quarter inches on her final toss of the day. Courtney Vie (Lone Jack, Mo.) finished fourth with a throw of 42 feet, four and one quarter inches, while Emilie Miesler (Carl Junction, Mo.) was sixth with a toss of 41 feet, seven and three quarter inches.

"Another school record and an automatic qualifier for Jessica (Selby)," said women's coach Patty Vavra. "That throw might lead the nation, but she really followed it up with a few other competitive throws. I think Courtney (Vie) and Emilie (Miesler) both came up big for us tonight, as well."

Allison Walker (West Plains, Mo.) finished third in the 800m with an NCAA Provisional time of 2:16.83. Sarah Wallace (Branson, Mo.) was sixth in the 600 yard run with a time of 1:29.32, while she anchored Missouri Southern's 4x400m relay team to a fourth-place time of 4:03.94. Freshman Danielle Oliver ran a 7.79 in the 60m dash breaking the Southern school record in that event.

"Allison (Walker) had a provisional in the 800 and I'm extremely happy for her," Vavra said. "I felt like we've made some great gains and competed with confidence this week. That type of character is extremely important to a team and to me. I was very happy to also see Danielle (Oliver) break the 60m record."

Southern placed three in the top six of the long jump with Oliver taking second place with a jump of 36 feet, five and three quarter inches. Channell Lloyd (O'Fallon, Mo.) and Jestine Hayes (Warrensburg, Mo.) finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

It was student versus teacher in the men's pole vault elite when Jacob Williams and former Lion and current coach Kyle Rutledge were the two remaining vaulters in the finals. Rutledge was vaulting unattached. Both had cleared 16 feet, six inches, which was a new personal best for Williams and an NCAA Provisional mark. Rutledge, however, came out on top when he cleared 16 feet, ten inches and Williams missed on all three attempts.

"Our pole vaulters really showed up today," said men's coach Tom Rutledge. "Jacob (Williams) hit a personal best and our three vaulters should be in the top ten nationally when the rankings come out next week."

Dustin Dixon (St. Clair, Mo.) had another solid day winning the 5000m with a time of 15:06.8. Dustin Miller (Carthage, Mo.) and Ryan Arthur (Clinton, Mo.) finished second and third with times of 15:17.61 and 15:20.11, respectively.

"This was a great home meet for us," Rutledge said. "Especially in the 3000m and 5000m where we came out and did just what we game planned and dominated the field."

Chris Brown (Dixon, Mo.) finished second in the high jump with a NCAA Provisional height of six feet, eight and three quarter inches, while Cory Reynolds (Neosho, Mo.) was tied for fourth at six feet, four and three quarter inches. Ryan McPeak (Joplin, Mo.) finished third in the 400m dash with a time of 50.69.

Both teams will be back in the friendly confines of the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center next weekend when they play host to the MSSU Radio Shack Invitational on Friday and Saturday.