Women's track sign nine athletes for 2010-11
Joplin, Mo. -- Missouri Southern women's track and field coach Patty Vavra has announced the signing of nine athletes for the 2010-11 season that will begin competition this fall.
The list of athletes includes five distance runners and four track and field athletes and with the exception of two athletes from the Kansas City area, the majority of the group hails from Southwest Missouri.
Sami Doran is a 5-5 distance runner from Lake Ozark, Mo., where she ran cross country at Osage High School for coach Miriam Hill and track for coach Mike Key. She holds the school record for the mile which she set in her sophomore campaign. She has been a two-time state qualifier for track and won the 800 meters this past season as a junior.
As a cross country runner Doran was a three-time state qualifier and a two-time All-State pick, placing eighth as a junior and 13th as a senior. The daughter of Steve and Stephanie Doran, Sami plans on majoring in secondary education at Southern.
Rachel Schrader is a 5-6 distance runner from Bolivar, Mo. where she ran track and cross country at Bolivar HS for coaches Ron Bandy and Vicki Newcomb. A state qualifier in cross country, she was the 3A Southwest Missouri runner of the Year, taking home titles in her conference and district meets. As a track athlete, Schrader finished fifth in the 4x400 relay as a freshman and seventh in the 4x800 relay, while placing seventh in the 4x400 as a sophomore and eighth as a junior.
Also an accomplished softball and basketball athlete, Schrader is the daughter of Todd and Schrader. She is undecided on her future major at Southern.
Codi Fritchie is a 5-8 distance runner from Lee's Summit North High School in Lee's Summit, Mo., where she ran track for coach Jessy Gryffin and cross country for coach Gary Kruger. An All-State selection in both cross country and track, Fritchie was a three-time qualifier in cross country and a four-time qualifier in track.
The sister of former Lion and current assistant coach Kari Fritchie, Codi placed 16th in the in the 2009 Missouri Cross Country Meet where she helped the Broncos to a third place finish in 4A. She was a member of the school record holding 4x800 meter relay time. The daughter of Duane and Mary Fritchie, Codi plans on majoring in secondary education at Southern.
Kelsie Hutsell is a 5-8 distance runner from Mountain Grove, Mo. where she ran track and cross country at Willow Springs High School for coach Chris Waggoner. A four-year letter winner in cross country and track, she also participated in basketball at Willow Springs.
An All-District and All-Conference selection, Hutsell was a four-time All-State selection in cross country and holds the school records for the 1600 meters, 3200 meters and the 5k. The daughter of Derrick and Cindy Hutsell, Kelsie hopes to major in special education at Southern.
Maggie Tennal is a distance runner from Lamar, Mo. where she participated in both cross country and track and field for coaches Rodney Baldridge and Toby Luce at Lamar High School.
Tennal earned All-State honors and placed sixth at the 2009 Missouri Class 2 State Cross Country meet. She has a personal best of 5:42 in the 1600 meters, as well as a time of 19:57 in the 5k, and 12:15 in the 3200 meters. The daughter of Douglas and Christine Tennal, Maggie hopes to major in business at Southern.
Sagan Graskemper is a 5-3 sprinter from Carl Junction, Mo. where she participated in both track and cross country for coach Frank Pittman at Carl Junction High School. Also a stellar softball and basketball athlete, Graskemper was a track state qualifier twice, and was a three-time All-Conference selection and two-time All-District selection. She holds the school record in the 100m, 200m and 400m.
As a softball player, she earned four letters and was a three-year starter, earning two All-Conference selections and also being named All-District and All-State Academic. The daughter of Doug and Amy Graskemper, Sagan will major in accounting at Southern.
Sydney Haase is a 5-6 vaulter from Holt, Mo. where she competed in track for coach Gray at Kearney High School. A four-time state qualifier, Haase holds her school record in the 300 hurdles, the pole vault (12-4) and the 4x100 meter relay.
Also a letter winner on the volleyball and swim teams at Kearney, she was a second-team All-Conference in volleyball. The daughter of Tim and Linda Haase, Sydney hopes to major in physical therapy at Southern.
Lauren Jones is a 5-9 thrower from Webb City High School in Webb City, Mo. where she competed in track for coach John Roderique, as well as earning letters in both Softball and Basketball.
As a track athlete, Jones was an All-State selection in the discus after placing fifth in the Missouri Class 3 State Championships in 2009. A decorated softball player as well, Jones earned four letters for the Cardinals, starting three years at first base. She was an All-Area and All-Conference selection, helping the team to a Missouri State Championship in 2007.
The daughter of Dustin and Angela Jones, Lauren is undecided on her major at Southern. She is the sister of current Lion's track and softball athlete Kylie Jones and the cousin of track athlete Devyn McPherson.
Kasey Meadows is a 5-6 sprinter from Branson, Mo. where she ran both cross country and track for coaches Kevin Blacklwell, Rod Pock and Doug Fortkamp at Branson High School. A three-time All-Conference and All-District selection in cross country, Meadows helped her cross country team to a third place finish in the Missouri State meet in 2007.
Meadows was a four-time state qualifier and was an All-State pick in the 300m hurdles in both 2008-09, while taking home the discrtrict and sectional title in the hurdles in 2009. She was also the district champion in the 100m hurdles and the 4x800 and 4x400 meter relay teams. She holds the Branson HS record for the 300m hurdles, the 4x100m relay and tied the school record for the 100m hurdles.
The daughter of Doug and Sally Meadows, Kasey plans on majoring in nursing at Southern.
