Joplin, Mo. -- Missouri Southern sophomore vaulter Brady Melugin earned a personal best and a berth to nationals today as the men's track and field team competed in the final day of the 2014 MSSU Lion Invite inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
Melugin placed second in the pole vault but hit a height of 16-09.25 to rank third nationally in the event. Senior Michael Juergens placed third and hit a provisional height of 16-05.25 which ranks him sixth nationally in the event. Raymond Woldvedt wsa sixth and Zach Wuest finished 11th.
Jeff Fraley improved his provisional time in the 60m dash and moved up the national list as he won the event in a time of 6.76. That time ranks him third nationally in the event.
Darion Boure finished third in the triple jump with a provisional distance 47-09, while Clark Tanksley finished sixth in a distance of 45-11.25. Tanksley was also seventh in the high jump with a height of 6-06.
Andrew Webster placed fourth in the mile with a time of 4:17.84, while Tyler Rush was seventh. Alex Mazon was fourth in the 3k in a time of 8:53.16, while Colton Wooldridge, Nathan Henry, Ryan Jackson and Drake Smelser placed 6th, 8th, 16th and 22nd, respectively.
Anthony Price was second in the 400m with a time of 49.90, while Miles Migliara and Drew Buckner placed 4th and 17th in the 800m. Bryan Burns was ninth in the shot put with a distance of 44-01.25.
The Lions will be back in action on February 7 when the team sends athletes to both the University of Missouri Collegiate Challenge and the Central Missouri Mule Relays.
