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Published May 16, 2007 12:34 am - Southern ready for nationals By Jim Fryar
jfryar@joplinglobe.com Near-perfect conditions led to a near-perfect race for Missouri Southern’s 1,600-meter relay team on Saturday. The result boosted the Lions into the NCAA Division II national championships. The relay runners are among 10 Missouri Southern athletes who officially have qualified for nationals, which will take place May 24-26 at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C. “We haven’t had a great spring, in terms of weather, but our kids have come through pretty good,” Southern men’s coach Tom Rutledge said. The Southern men qualified pole vaulters Jacob Williams, Russell Ellis and Seagar Wilson, high jumper Cody Reynolds and 800-meter runner Marcus Walton. Ryan McPeak, T.J. Britton and Tyler Chiartano join Walton on the relay team. Jessica Selby, the national leader in both the shot put and hammer, and Danielle Oliver are the Southern women qualifiers. Britton, in the 800, and pole vaulter Erica Culver were bumped from qualifying positions by final-weekend performances across the nation. Culver finished ranked No. 18 in the nation by vaulting 3.79 meters (12 feet, 5 inches). The cutoff for women’s pole vault qualifying was 3.80 meters. Britton had a similar near-miss in the 800. The 1,600 relay was a carefully planned event, Rutledge said. McPeak, in the 400, and Britton both agreed to pass individual qualifying opportunities for the relay. “It was perfect weather,” Rutledge said. “The wind wasn’t blowing, which I’ve never seen at Emporia.” It was also the first time the Lions had run the relay with all four runners fresh. Southern’s 3:10.84 clocking cut nearly five seconds off the school record. The four runners averaged 47.71 seconds per leg, faster than Neil Hombs’ school record of 48.01 in the open 400. The three Southern vaulters all rank among the top six in the nation. Ellis is No. 3, Williams No. 4 and Wilson is tied for No. 5. 
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