Joplin, Mo. -- Missouri Southern thrower Nicole Green punched her ticket to nationals today with an automatic qualifying mark in the shot put as the Lions track and field team competed at both Pittsburg State and the University of Arkansas. 

Green, competing at PSU, won the shot put with an automatic distance of 49-1.75. That mark is tops in the MIAA this year and ranks second in Division II. Kylie Cornman was third in the event with a distance of 43-3.75. Green placed second in the weight throw with a provisional mark of 53-1.5, while Cornman was 21st. 

Also competing at PSU, the Lions went 2-3-4 in the long jump with Lindsey Bragg placing second with a distance of 17-7. Brandy Simpson was third, while Rachel Olinyk placed fourth. Olinyk was also second in the high jump with a height of 5-2.25, while placing third in the triple jump with a distance of 35-8. Gayla Booth was fifth in the high jump, while Bragg and Booth were 5th and 6th, respectively in the triple. 

Sydney Haase won the pole vault with a provisional height of 11-5.75, while JeAnna Sheppard took fourth in the 55m hurdles in a time of 8.77. 

At Arkansas, Ashley Bunch and Marlee Tegenkamp placed 13th and 16th in the mile with times of 5:06.93 and 5:08.39, respectively. Olga Bulgurova and Alex Close were 25th and 29th in the 800m, while Kelly McKay placed 64th in the 400m, but barely missed out on a provisional with a time of 57.46. 

The Lions will finish up with day two of the Tyson Invitational tomorrow in Fayetteville.