Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern men's and women's track and field programs will open the indoor season this Saturday as the Lions travel to Pittsburg State to compete in the Crimson and Gold Invitational inside the Plaster Center.
 
The meet starts on Saturday morning at 11 am with track events and the women's 5k and concludes at 9:40 pm that night with the men's 3k. Field events start at noon on Saturday with the men's weight throw.
 
The Southern men were picked second and the women sixth in the MIAA preseason coaches' poll that was released last week. The Southern men finished third in the indoor season last year and had three individual MIAA Champions with six All-MIAA honorees altogether. The Lions went on to pick up a pair of All-America honors in the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships.
 
In the outdoor season, Southern's men placed second at the MIAA meet and had a program-best sixth-place finish at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Ryan Riddle is the defending MIAA Indoor 3k and 5k Champ.
 
The Southern women placed sixth at the MIAA Indoor Championships last season and had a pair of individual MIAA Champions with four All-MIAA honorees, altogether. Kiara Smith is the reigning MIAA Champion in the 60m hurdles.
 
Southern will send a limited squad to this first event of the year. Live results and live video will be available for the event and links to each can be found in the story links section above.
 
After this meet, the Lions will be off for a little more than a month as Southern next competes on January 20 at the Rumble in the Jungle hosted by Pittsburg State.