Though the results of the MIAA meet did not come out the way the Lions had hoped, they were still able to hold their heads up high for a comeback.

The Missouri Southern men’s track and field team traveled to Central Missouri State University for the MIAA track and field championships.

The team finished third, two short of its goal, but head coach Tom Rutledge said he was proud of the team for the effort on the second day to try and come back within reach of the lead.

“I felt that we could have won, Rutledge said.

“We had a chance. We dug a hole the first day. The kids never gave up.”

On Feb. 28, the shot put and the triple jump did not perform up to expectations of the team and the Lions fell behind. The 4×800-meter relay was disqualified for lane violations, and Rutledge thought it was a great loss due to the fact it was such a good group to run the event.

By the end of the Feb. 28 events, the team was 30 points behind and in fifth place.

On March 1 the team showed its true potential as it came as close as 20 points away from taking the lead away from the host team, CMSU.

In the weight throw, Arley Smith placed first with a toss of 61-4 (MIAA record) and Jamie Tallman placed fourth with a throw of 53-1.

Smith is currently ranked third in the nation in the weight throw and most likely is competing in the national championships in Boston, March 14-15.

In the pole vault, Seth Isringhausen and Kyle Rutledge were able to claim the top two spots.

Isringhausen is ranked third in the nation and will also likely compete in Boston next weekend.

In the long jump, Chris Turner came through with a third place finish at 22-8 and Michael Stewart placed sixth with a jump of 21-11.

“We had a good solid third place finish, which is a good respectable finish, but it isn’t what we went for,” Rutledge said.

Rutledge was also proud of the effort from the distance crew and B.J. Blocker in the hurdles.

“As a coach you’re very proud to see people to go to that extreme, to try and do it when you know that it’s almost impossible,” Rutledge said.

The Lions are off for the weekend, but for the members traveling to Boston, it will be a little more time to train and prepare mentally and physically for the national competition.