By Jim Fryar

jfryar@joplinglobe.com

Points in the jumping events and sprints have been scarce for the Missouri Southern men’s track and field team.

Better balance is an obvious goal and coach Tom Rutledge has taken a stride in that direction with recruiting for the 2008-09 academic year.

Long and triple jumpers Taylor McClelland and David Selby and sprinters Tyler Daniel and Anthony Dewey have signed to join the Lions team.

Of course, the distance events and the pole vault have been the Lions’ strengths and Rutledge hasn’t ignored those areas, either. John Williams, who has run every distance from a 100-meter relay split to 3.1 miles, has signed to attend Missouri Southern.

And Daniel doubles as a vaulter with 14-foot potential.

“I’m having a good year recruiting,” Rutledge said, noting that the five recent signees supplement an already-strong class. “I’m going to have to depend on some young people coming through. We’ll have success again.”

The Lions won both cross country and indoor track championships during the past academic year in the MIAA.

McClelland, from Washington, Mo., has a career-best leap of 44 feet, 7 inches in the triple jump and is also a 21-plus long jumper.

“He also has all the tools to run a sub-50 (second) 400 (meters),” Rutledge said.

Selby, the brother of Southern All-American thrower Jessica Selby-Tallman, attends Reeds Spring High School.

“He wants to come in on his own accord, and he has a lot of ability,” Rutledge said. “We may make a multi-event athlete out of him.”

Selby cleared 6-8 in the high jump this spring and is also a long and triple jumper.

Williams has been a track and cross country standout at East Newton High School. He’s a two-time all-state selection in cross country and finishing 11th and 13th in the past two Class 2 meets.