Missouri Southern senior Jessica Selby-Tallman, won the MIAA Field Athlete of the Week for the third time this year with her performance at the Nebraska Invitational last week. The track teams are four weeks into the season, and the only week Selby-Tallman did not win the honor was a week Southern did not compete.

Selby-Tallman finished fifth in the shot put with a distance of 15.32 meters, making the distance second in Division II only to her previous throw of 15.75 meters. Selby-Tallman also placed seventh in the weight throw with a provisional qualifying mark of 56 feet.

“She had two nice throws and she is still not satisfied,’ said Patty Vavra, women’s track and field coach. “She wants to be better and set higher goals.”

Senior Jessica Self placed 10th in the weight throw, while sophomore Cortney Vie placed 11th with a distance of 15.03 meters. Senior Erica Culver placed 11th in the pole vault with a height of 11 feet 3 inches.

Freshman Carita Riutta finished 30th in the 400-meter dash. Senior Alison Walker finished fifth in the 800-meter run. Sophomores Kimi Shank and Victoria Kline finished second and eighth in the 3,000-meter run.

“Kimi is obviously running extremely well and will continue to improve,” Vavra said. “She is going to have a week off to recover, but will be back for the Tyson Invitational at the University of Arkansas.”

Southern also sent six women to the Pittsburg State Invitational. Sophomore Channell Lloyd finished second in the 60-meter hurdles and second in the long jump. Sophomore Kayla Piley finished fourth in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.34 seconds. Piley also finished ninth in the long jump.

Sophomore Jestine Hayes finished fifth in the triple jump. Sophomore Emilie Mieseler finished fourth in the shot put. Mieseler also won the weight throw competition, receiving a provisional to the national competition. Senior Amanda Littlefield placed sixth in the weight throw.

“They are all showing the improvement we need to see this time of the season,” Vavra said. “Time is running out for qualifying.”

The men’s track and field team also competed at the Nebraska Invitational against Division I schools.

Sophomore Phillip Horn competed in seven events placing fifth in the high jump and 60-meter hurdles. Horn finished 6th in the long jump with a distance of 6.34 meters. He also finished eighth in the shot put and ninth the 60-meter dash and pole vault.

“He had a pretty good meet until the 1,000 meter run, where he placed 11th,” said Tom Rutledge, men’s head track and field coach.

Senior Jacob Williams tied with assistant coach Kyle Rutledge for eighth place in the pole vault.

“The teams look at Kyle [Rutledge], and think ‘if he can do it, I can do it,'” Rutledge said. “Right now, he is about 4″ away from qualifying for the Olympic trials.”

Senior Russell Ellis finished 11th. Ellis finished at a height of 15 feet 11 inches. Junior Seagar Wilson and sophomore Corey Shumate also competed in the pole vault.

“The pole vaulters are really getting up there,” Rutledge said.

Seniors Ryan Arthur and Dustin Miller placed sixth and 10th in the 5,000-meter run. Sophomore Brennan Benkert finished ninth.

“We are trying our best to get the distance runners legs back under them,” Rutledge said. “Only time will tell.”

Sophomore Jordan Patton finished 18th in the 200 meter dash while freshman Jeremiah Jones finished 25th. Sophomore Corey Reynolds finished 5th in the high jump with a height of six feet eight inches. Freshman Kevin Wright finished 28th in the 400-meter dash while sophomore Derek Wright finished 13th in the 800-meter run. Freshman Jarrko Jarvenpaa finished 10th in the 3,000-meter run and freshman Aki Nummela finished sixth in the one-mile run.

“Overall, we did pretty good at the meet,” Rutledge said.

Both teams will be back in action tonight at the Central Missouri Mule Relays.