FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2007

Women's Track and Field announces two signings

Joplin, Mo. -- Missouri Southern Women's Track and Field coach Patty Vavra has announced the signing of two prep standouts as McDonald County's Melanie Bowers and Carthage's Nicole Green have both signed with the Lions to begin competing in 2007.

Bowers, a 5'4 pole vaulter who prepped at McDonald County for coach Bruce Stancell. Also a basketball and volleyball player, she has a personal best of 10 feet, six inches and Vavra sees her easily adding height to that mark.

"She's gotten better each year," Vavra said. "She just has a great desire to win in the event and I think she can step in and be a great addition to our current vaulters."

Bowers lettered four years in track, three in basketball and one in volleyball. She was all-conference all-district and named all-sectional in track, while earning state medalist honors last year and claiming a conference championship, as well. She was all conference in 2005-06, as well in basketball for the Mustangs.

Green comes to Southern from Carthage High School where she prepped for coach Andy Youngworth. A very talented thrower, Green was a state qualifier last year in the shot put, and she was a district and sectional champion the shot, as well. A three time all-conference selection in the shot put and discus, Green has personal bests of 38 feet, three inches in the shot and 114 feet, six inches in the discus.

Also talented in the classroom, she is a member of the National Honor Society and president of the Math Club at Carthage.

Vavra saw a lot of improvement in Green and felt that she has a very high ceiling for success at the next level.

"I saw so much improvement in her this year," Vavra said. "I think once she gets into our training program and once she gets around that great group of throwers we have, she'll take off.

"Both of these girls come from excellent high school programs. They are both excellent students and will both add depth to our throwers and vaulters."