FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2008

Lions sign five track athletes for 2008

Joplin, Mo. -- Missouri Southern men's track and field coach Tom Rutledge has announced the addition of two jumpers, two sprinters and one distance runner to his list of 2008 recruits and all will begin training with the Lions in the fall of 2008.

John Williams is a 5'8 distance runner from East Newton High School in Granby, Mo. where he ran track and cross country for four years under coaches Jake Holt and Mark Vanslyke. A three time All-Conference and All-District cross country runner, Williams is a two time All-State selection and was the Big 8 Conference Runner of the Year in 2007.

In track, Williams was a three time All-State selection in the 4x800m relay, as well as All-State in the 4x100m relay in 2007. Williams helped his cross country teams to four conference titles and three district championships, while winning the conference title in track in 2007 and taking the district championship in both 2006 and 2007. He was part of the East Newton school record for the 4x800m and 4x100m relay. The son of Kenneth Comley, Williams is undecided on his future major.

David Selby is a 6'5 jumper from Reeds Spring High School in Reeds Spring, Mo. He is the younger brother of current Lion All-American Jessica Selby-Tallman. A three year performer track Reeds Spring, Selby participated in the high jump, triple jump, long jump and 4x400m relay for coaches Dale Patton and Jeremy Hays. He was also a three-year starter on the basketball team.

Selby took the team's high point mark in 2007 and was a state qualifier in 2006 in the high jump, finishing fourth. He qualified in both the high and triple jump in 2007, with the 2008 season left to finish. Selby holds the school's record in the high jump (6'6) and triple jump (42'3''). Selby has another sister, Angela, who is a softball player at Central Missouri. The son of Matt and Patty Selby, David is undecided on his future major.

Taylor McClelland is a 6'3 jumper from Washington (Mo.) High School, where he competed for coach Michael Diszowka in both the triple and long jump. He was a sectional qualifier in both his sophomore and junior seasons, with this year's state meet yet to come. The Son of Hal McClelland and Kim Bachman, he plans to major in history at Southern.

Anthony Dewey is a 5'8 sprinter from Ozark High School. A state champion in the 4x200m relay, Dewey also was a pole vaulter and started for three years on the football team at both defensive back and wide receiver. The son of Clint and Angela Betard, Dewey plans on majoring in Biology at Southern.

Tyler Daniel is a 5'8 sprinter from Baxter Springs High School where he ran four years for coach Shelly Grimes. A state qualifier in the 100 and 200m, Daniel also participated in basketball and football at Baxter. The son of Roy Daniel and Heidi York, Daniel is undecided on his major at Southern.

Coach Rutledge expects too announce four more additions in the coming days.