Fraley wins 60 second dash as MSSC men's track competes

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Missouri Southern senior sprinter Jeff Fraley picked up an automatic qualifying time to nationals as the men's track and field team played host to the Early Bird Invite today at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

Fraley, the No. 1 ranked 60m runner in Division II heading into the season picked up where he left off last year before an injury sidelined him for the outdoor season. He won the 60m dash and automatically qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships with a time of 6.74 in the event.

Eron Holley finished fourth in a time of 6.99, while Anthony Price was 7th and Desmond Williams and Darion Boure placed 10th and 24th. Fraley then turned around and won the 400m dash in a provisional time of 48.50. That time converts to a mark of 47.74 on a banked track and put Fraley just .44 from an automatic qualifying mark in that event, as well. Sam Kohrs was fourth in the 400m with a time of 51.85 and Holley placed 7th.

Darion Boure won the triple jump in a provisional distance of 48-06, while Kennan Harrison was second with a distance of 45-11.75. Garner Rudroff was fourth and Jayce Thomas was sixth.

Thomas placed second in the high jump with a height of 6-4.25, while Morgan Hold placed fourth in the pole vault with a provisional height of 15-9. Zach Wuest was tenth, while Thomas placed 13th in the event.

Williams placed third in the long jump with a distance of 22-11.75, while Jacob Rowe was third with a jump of 22-07.25. Boure was fifth, while Harrison placed sixth and Rudroff was 14th.

Tyler Hovey placed second in the shot put with a distance of 50-02.50, while Bryan Burns was fifth and Thomas placed 11th. Nicklas Polizzi placed second in the weight throw with a distance of 52-09.50, while Hovey and Burns placed 6th and 7th.

Thomas Hawkins placed third in the 600y run in a time of 1:16.64, while Miles Migliara was second in the 800m in a time of 1:58.91. Ben Grant was seventh in the 800m, while Thomas Zeilman and Gabe Lodge placed 9th and 11th, respectively.

The mile relay team of Price, Kohrs, Hawkins and Williams won the event in a time of 3:25.41, while the distance medley team of Grant, Zeilman, Migliara and Lodge placed third.

The Lions will be off for the Christmas break, but will be back on Jan. 16 and 17 when Southern plays host to the MSSU Open.