The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

High School Sports

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April 13, 2012

Three Joplin athletes sign to continue track careers in college

By Richard Polen Globe Sports Writer

JOPLIN, Mo. — Three Joplin High School track and field athletes signed letters of intent Thursday to continue their careers in college.

Miriah Johnson and Mariah Sanders agreed to compete at Missouri Southern, while Colton Simmons signed with William Jewell College in Liberty.

Johnson is a nine-time all-conference selection and two-time all-district choice in the long jump, triple jump and high jump.

“It’s not just one thing, it’s multiple events I can succeed in,” said Johnson, who shares the school record in the high jump. She said she plans to study education and coaching at Missouri Southern and would like to become a track and field coach.

“Miriah trains 11 weeks out of the year and she has this much success,” said Joplin head coach Kasey Pliler. “When she gets with coach (Bryan) Schiding, coach Schiding is going to be able to mold her into an outstanding athlete.”

Johnson said she became interested in pursuing a career in track and field as a sophomore. “There was a group of senior girls, and my goal as a sophomore was to beat them in their own events,” Johnson said. “They were fun to be around and we all succeeded together.”

Sanders, a pole vaulter, qualified for the state meet last spring. She was named all conference three times, all district twice and is a two-time conference champion.

Pliler said he saw the making of a pole vaulter in Sanders when she was in seventh grade. “I look for somebody who has speed and strength,” Pliler said. “I like the onery kids who are going to get mad when they’re told they can’t do something.”

Pole vaulting, however, was a tough sell.

“I looked it up on You Tube and told him he was crazy,” Sanders said. “Then I did it for him in eighth grade and kept on through high school.”

Sanders said she plans to study sports medicine and physical therapy. “I just want to be around athletes the rest of my life,” she said. “I like to compete with myself. I’m always wanting to go higher.”

Simmons is a three-sport athlete who said he is looking forward to focusing on what he does best.

“When my senior year began, I was getting things in the mail (from William Jewell) for academics,” Simmons said. “My cousin went there and she loved it. The coach looked at my academics and thought I would be a good fit for William Jewell.”

Simmons said he plans to study biology and possibly optometry. “They’re known for their science department and research, so I’m still open,” he said.

“Coach (Craig) Lynch is the one who got me running hurdles, and also coach (Tom) Thorne at Neosho, who worked with me over the summer on my technique,” Simmons said. “They both pushed me into thinking I could run in college.”

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High School Sports