Six members of the Missouri Southern track and field team have qualified to compete in the 2013 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships from March 8-9 in Birmingham, Ala.

After taking third place in the MIAA Championships, Lions are ranked fourth in the region.

Sophomore sprinter Jeff Fraley will be attending indoor national championships for the second time.

Fraley will compete in both the 60-meter and the 200-meter dash.

He earned All-Region honors in both the 50m and 200m.

Senior Seth Hackney will be attending nationals for his 10th ranked distance in the shot put. Ranked ninth, sophomore jumper Darion Boure will be competing in the triple jump. He was also named All-Region in the shot put.

Sophomore Clark Tanksley qualified 11th in the high jump, and earned honors in high jump.

 Sophomore Jayce Thomas qualified for the heptathlon with a seventh ranked performance. He earned All-Region honors in the heptathlon.

“I’m just listening to coach more and more.  

I’m listening to every detail, every aspect of what he tells me to do, I do it exactly as he tells me to do it,” Boure said.

Senior pole vaulter Michael Juergens qualified for the pole vault with a 15th ranked height, and was named All-Region in the pole vault.

“We’re representing Missouri southern state university at a national level. I’m happy for these athletes and I hope they have a great meet.

That’s the ultimate goal, making it to nationals and get All-American. That’s what they work for and they want it bad,” Head Coach Tom Rutledge said.

The group left for the meet Monday, for a full week of festivities and preparing for the national meet this weekend.