MSSU's Jayce Thomas qualifies for nationals, sets school record

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Missouri Southern senior Jayce Thomasqualified for the 2016 NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships and broke a school record in the process as the Lions competed at Pittsburg State today, opening the Indoor season.

Thomas scored 5,454 points to win the heptathlon today. He won four of the seven events, including winning two of the three events today, placing second in the final race of the heptathlon. He broke the previous MSSU record by 264 points which was held by Phillip Horn, set at the 2009 Indoor National Championships. In all, Thomas won the long jump, the high jump, the 60m hurdles and the pole vault to take the title by more than 600 points in front of his nearest competitor.

In other action, Southern had four provisional marks in addition to Thomas' auto mark. Morgan Hold had a provisional in the pole vault, placing third with a height of 16-03.25. Desmond Williams had a provisional with a third place mark in the long jump, leaping to a distance of 23-02.75.Jourden Riley was fifth in the event, while Kennan Harrisonwas 15th.

Harrison was fourth in the triple jump with a provisional mark of 47-03.50. Eric Schott was second in the 3k with a provisional time of 8:24.09.

Tyler Hovey was fifth in the weight throw with a mark of 48-07.50, while Tanner Erhart placed seventh. Hovey and Erhart placed fourth and eighth in the shot put, while Cody Vogt was third in the high jump with a height of 6-06.00.

Sean Manhertz and Jesse Martini placed sixth and ninth in the 60m hurdles, while Williams was 11th in the 60m dash.Warren Leak was fourth in the 300m dash in a time of 36.20, while Thomas Hawkins was fourth in the 400m, turning in a time of 49.21.

Jacob Sholl was sixth in the 600 yard dash, while Sam Kohrsand Ben Grant placed fourth and ninth in the 800m. The 4x400m relay team of Williams, Hawkins, Kohrs and Sholl placed ninth.

The Lions will be off for the Christmas Break and will be back in action on January 22-23 when Southern plays host to the MSSU Invitational.