Thursday, April 27, 2017

MSSU track teams to play host to Bill Williams/Bob Laptad Invitational Friday

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern men's and women's track and field team will host the Bill Williams/Bob Laptad Invitational this Friday inside Fred G. Hughes Stadium.

The meet will feature 11 Division II teams and a handful of NAIA and junior college teams competing. The Lions men are the top-ranked squad as they come into the meet ranked ninth nationally. Central Missouri is ranked 12th, while Pittsburg State is ranked 15th. On the women's side, Pittsburg State, ranked second, is the lone ranked squad coming to the meet.

During the meet, the Lions will be honoring the two families the meet is named after and update the status of the two endowed scholarships that both families have helped to create.

The men have seven marks that rank in the top 15 nationally with Vincent Kiprop (3rd - 5k, 1st - 10k) and Bryan Burns (3rd - discus, 6th - shot) leading the way. Kiprop has an NCAA Automatic Qualifying mark in both his events, while Burns has qualified in the discus. Daniel Hernandez is third with an AQ in the javelin, while Jordyn Manier is second in the long jump and Morgan Hold is 14th in the pole vault.

The women are led by Emily Presley with an AQ and the top mark in the pole vault. Desirea Buerge has an AQ and is sixth in the discus, while Allie Heckemeyer is 16th in the triple jump.

The meet will also be senior day for the men and women with ceremonies taking place around 3 pm.

No comments:

Post a Comment