MSSU gets early work at home indoor meet

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Globe/B.W.Shepherd Kylie Cornman take second place in the women's shot put at Missouri Southern State University on Saturday, December 8, 2012.
Globe/B.W.Shepherd Kaylee Morgan took first place in the women's long jump at Missouri Southern University on Saturday, December 8, 2012. This is one of three trial jumps.
Globe/B.W.Shepherd Brittanie Ragan take second place in the Women's long jump at Missouri Southern State University on Saturday, December 8, 2012.

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December 8, 2012

MSSU gets early work at home indoor meet

By Mark Schremmer Globe Sports Writer The Joplin Globe Sat Dec 08, 2012, 11:20 PM CST

Even though it was only her first meet competing for the Missouri Southern Lions, Jackie Wallace already has high goals in the 60-meter hurdles.

“I definitely want to get the school record,” the transfer from Coffeyville Community College said. “My PR (personal record) at Coffeyville beats it, so I want to PR again and break the school record.”

Wallace fell short of the record Saturday, but she certainly had a nice start to her career at Missouri Southern. Wallace won the 60-meter hurdles and met the NCAA Division II indoor track national provisional qualifying mark of 8.95 seconds at the MSSU Early Bird Open at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

“I did well for my first meet,” she said. “There are some things I can improve, but it was a good start.”

The school record in the event is 8.87 seconds and is held by Dionne Prince (2006) and Channell Lloyd (2010).

Wallace said she improved at every meet last year and hopes to do the same with the Lions. She said being pushed by her teammates helps.

Missouri Southern’s JeAnna Sheppard finished second in the event Saturday in 8.97 seconds, and Lions sophomore Taitum Mead was third in 9.26.

The Lions women also achieved big success in the long jump and triple jump events.

Missouri Southern freshman Kaylee Morgan won the long jump in 18 feet, 6 inches, and fellow freshman Brittani Reagan was second in 18-4.25. Both were national provisional qualifying marks.

Reagan also won the triple jump with a leap of 38-0.75.

“They did well,” Missouri Southern women’s track and field coach Patty Vavra said. “It was a nice opening to their college careers.”

Missouri Southern sophomore Emily Weldin won the 800 meters with a time of 2:29.78.

The Lions men also won several events and had many record provisional qualifying times.

Evan Moore led the way for Missouri Southern, winning the shot put with a mark of 53-01.75 and the weight throw with a distance of 56-09.5. Both were provisional qualifiers.

Moore was competing with Missouri Southern for the first time since transferring from Hutchinson Community College.

“He improved almost 10 foot in the weight throw and almost a foot in the shot put,” Missouri Southern Tom Rutledge said. “He just needed to get into a place to push him a little harder. He’s just a great kid.”

Missouri Southern’s Jayce Thomas won the high jump with a provisional mark of 6-8.25. Darion Boure won the triple jump with a provisional mark of 49-5. Jazz Allen won the 60-meter hurdles with a provisional time of 8.26 seconds. Jeffrey Fraley won the 60-meter dash with a provisional time of 6.87 seconds and the 200 meters in a provisional time of 22.13 seconds.. Sophomore Anthony Price won the 400-meters in 51.11 seconds.

The Pittsburg State Gorillas men were led by junior Keenan Soles, who won the long jump with a mark of 24-05.75. The jump was just shy of being an automatic national qualifier. Pitt State’s Jeff Piepenbrink won the pole vault.

Female Pitt State event winners included Larissa Richards in the shot put and weight throw and Lauren Ouderkirk in the 400 meters.

Missouri Southern will compete next at its home invitational on Jan. 11-12.