When the dust settled in Fayetteville on Jan. 17, the Missouri Southern women’s indoor track and field team was left with two qualifiers for the national tournament and nine top 10 finishes in individual events after a day of tough competition.

“For our upperclassmen, they’re used to that type of competition,” said Patty Vavra, head coach, Missouri Southern women’s indoor track and field. “For the freshmen and the new comers, I think that it’s always an eye opener.”

The women also took second in the distance medley, finishing less than half a minute behind the team from Louisiana State University.

“I think that we can compete against anybody,” said Danee Jones, junior thrower.

The Arkansas Invitational was hosted by the University of Arkansas. Southern was the only Division II university invited to the event, which featured such schools as Southwest Missouri State University, Oklahoma State University, the University of Mississippi and the University of Tulsa.

“When you open up in that type of a competitive setting and you have good competition and great performances, it can do an awful lot for your confidence going into the remainder of the season,” Vavra said.

On Friday and Saturday, the women will again take to the confines of the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center to represent the Lions in the Radio Shack/Missouri Southern All-Comers Invitational.

There will be about 13 schools in attendance, and the ladies feel good about a repeat of last week’s performances.

“We have to realize that as long as we stay strong we’ll be able to go up there and compete with anybody,” said Iashia Castle, sophomore jumper and sprinter.

The team is also looking at having two national qualifiers after the first meet as a big challenge to them personally.

“It motivates me a lot,” Castle said. “If they can do it in the first meet, then I definitely feel that I have a chance of doing it.”

Events on Friday begin at 5 p.m. at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center, with Saturday’s start time set at 11 a.m.